Human apob100 epitopes, methods and uses for modulating inflammatory responses, and treating adverse cardiovascular events, disease and atherosclerosis

ABSTRACT

Provided herein are composition comprising novel epitopes of ApoB100, as well as sub-sequences, portions and modifications thereof, and uses thereof for treating adverse cardiovascular events, cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis and certain liver disorders.

RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/574,784, filed Nov. 16, 2017, which is a National Phase of International Application No. PCT/US2016/032981, filed May 18, 2016 which designated the U.S. and that International Application was published under PCT Article 21(2) in English, and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/163,841 filed on May 19, 2015. The entire content of the foregoing applications are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, including all text, tables and drawings.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

This invention was made with government support under contract/grant numbers R01 HL126543 and NIH R01 HL121697 awarded by NIH. The government has certain rights in the invention.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has been submitted electronically in ASCII format and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy created on Nov. 16, 2017, is named “LIAI0455159_ST25.txt” and is 20.9 MB in size.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to novel epitopes of ApoB100, or sub-sequences, portions or modifications thereof and methods and compounds thereof for treatment an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, including atherosclerosis.

INTRODUCTION

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease of the arterial wall characterized by monocytes entering the subendothelial space where they differentiate into macrophages and foam cells (Lusis, Nature 407: 233 (2000); Glass & Witztum, Cell 104: 503 (2001); and Galkina & Ley, Annu. Rev. Immunol. 27: 165 (2009); Li & Glass, Nat. Med. 8: 1235 (2002)). Foam cell formation induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) leads to induction of pro-inflammatory factors that initiate plaque formation and finally plaque rupture with deleterious clinical consequences like myocardial infarction or stroke. oxLDL-induced foam cell formation is promoted by scavenger receptors like CD36 and SR-A, which allow uncontrolled accumulation of modified LDL cholesterol in foam cells (Libby et al., Am. J. Med. 104: 14S (1998); and Kunjathoor et al., J. Biol. Chem. 277: 49982 (2002)).

ApoB-100 is an apolipoprotein of about 4500 amino acids long and has been shown to be a component involved in the development of atherosclerosis. ApoB100 has previously been suggested as being an autoantigen relevant to atherosclerosis (1). However the regions of this apolipoprotein that activate T cells through T cell receptors to induce inflammatory responses in atherosclerosis are hitherto not known.

SUMMARY

The invention is based, in part, on the discovery of novel ApoB100 T cell epitopes and use of such epitopes in atherogenic and vaccination methods. In particular embodiments, the invention provides proteins and peptides comprising an amino acid sequence of ApoB100, and sub-sequences, portions or modifications, and methods and compounds comprising such protein and peptides for the treatment of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, including in certain embodiments atherosclerosis.

Thus, in one aspect there is provided a protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1 or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof. In some embodiments, a peptide comprises the amino acid sequence SLFFSAQPFEITAST (p18) (SEQ ID NO: 9), the amino acid sequence IKHIYAISSAALSAS (p9) (SEQ ID NO: 13) or the amino acid sequence of P101, P102 or P103.

In different particular embodiments, a protein or peptide of the present invention modifies an immune or inflammatory response; modifies a T cell response; induces, promotes, increases or enhances an immune response; elicits, stimulates, induces, promotes, increases or enhances a T cell response; decreases, reduces, inhibits, suppresses or disrupts an immune or inflammatory response; or elicits, stimulates, induces, promotes, increases or enhances an anti- immune or anti- inflammatory response.

In other embodiments, a protein or peptide of the present invention has prophylactic properties against an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, including atherosclerosis, or against liver disease, disorder or damage.

In another aspect, the protein or peptide has a length from about 10-15, 15-20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-75 or 75-100 amino acids. In another aspect, the protein or peptide further comprises a heterologous domain.

In another aspect, the protein or peptide has a function or activity distinct from wild-type full length ApoB100. In an additional embodiment, the function or activity comprises protecting against or reducing the risk of atherosclerosis or protecting against liver disease, disorder or damage. In a further embodiment, the function or activity comprises protecting against an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease or reducing the risk of a subject to an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease. In an additional aspect, the protein or peptide is isolated or purified.

In another aspect, there is provided a nucleic acid encoding a protein or peptide of the present invention. In yet another aspect, there is provided a cell expressing a protein or peptide of the present invention. In different embodiments, the cell may be a eukaryotic or prokaryotic cell including for example a mammalian, insect, fungal or bacterium cell. In another embodiment, the cell is a dendritic cell.

In another aspect there is provided, a composition comprising a protein or peptide of the present invention. In particular embodiments, a composition of the present invention may comprise an adjuvant. In additional embodiments, the composition may further comprise a statin. In different embodiments, the composition may be a solid or a liquid. In further embodiments, the composition may be a microparticle or a nanoparticle. In particular embodiments, the composition may be a vaccine. In further embodiments, the composition is sterile. In another embodiment, the composition further comprises a salt, a chelating agent, a buffering agent or an anti-microbial agent.

In yet another aspect, there is provided, a method of vaccinating a subject against an adverse cardiovascular event, cardiovascular disease or liver disease, disorder or damage, the method comprising administering to the subject an amount of protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, sufficient to vaccinate the subject against the adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease.

In another embodiment, there is provided a method of providing a subject with protection against an adverse cardiovascular event, cardiovascular disease or liver disease, disorder or damage, comprising administering to the subject an amount of protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, sufficient to provide the subject with protection against the adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease.

In another embodiment, there is provided a method of reducing the risk of an adverse cardiovascular event, cardiovascular disease or liver disease, disorder or damage in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an amount of protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, sufficient to reduce the risk of the adverse cardiovascular event, cardiovascular disease or liver disease, disorder or damage in the subject.

In certain embodiments, the methods of vaccinating a subject against an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease described herein comprise prophylactic vaccination against the adverse cardiovascular event, cardiovascular disease or liver disease, disorder or damage. In particular embodiments, the methods of the present invention comprise vaccinating the subject against an adverse symptom of the adverse cardiovascular event, cardiovascular disease or liver disease, disorder or damage, including for example atherosclerosis.

In another aspect, there is provided, a method of treating a subject for an adverse cardiovascular event, cardiovascular disease or liver disease, disorder or damage, the method comprising administering to the subject an amount of protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of: the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, sufficient to treat the subject for the adverse cardiovascular event, cardiovascular disease or liver disease, disorder or damage.

In certain embodiments, the method of treating a subject for an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease described herein comprises prophylactic treatment against the adverse cardiovascular event, cardiovascular disease or liver disease, disorder or damage. In certain embodiments, the method of treating a subject for an adverse cardiovascular event, cardiovascular disease or liver disease, disorder or damage described herein comprises treating the subject for an adverse symptom of the adverse cardiovascular event, cardiovascular disease or liver disease, disorder or damage, including for example atherosclerosis.

In another embodiment, there is provided, a method of treating a subject for an adverse cardiovascular event, cardiovascular disease or liver disease, disorder or damage, the method comprising administering to the subject an amount of protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, sufficient to treat the subject for the adverse cardiovascular event, cardiovascular disease or liver disease, disorder or damage. In further aspects, the adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular comprises coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, renal artery disease, stroke, myocardial infarction (heart attack), ischemic heart failure, transient ischemic attack or brain trauma. In additional aspects, the method reduces an adverse symptom of the adverse cardiovascular event, cardiovascular disease or liver disease, disorder or damage, including atherosclerosis. In further aspects, the method comprises plaque regression.

In some aspects, presented herein is a method of determining whether a subject has, has had, is at risk of having or is need of treatment for an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, the method comprising contacting a biological sample of the subject with an agent that comprises a protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof and detecting binding of immune cells in the biological sample to the agent, wherein detection of binding of immune cells in the biological sample to the agent indicates that the subject has, has had, is at risk of having or is need of treatment for an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease.

In certain aspects, presented herein is a method of determining the efficacy of the method of any one of claims 33 to 47, the method comprising: a) contacting a biological sample of the subject prior to performance of the method of any one of claims 33 to 47 with an agent that comprises a protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof; b) detecting binding of immune cells in the biological sample to the agent; c) performing the method of any one of claims 33 to 47; d) contacting a biological sample of the subject after performance of the method of any one of claims 33 to 47 with the agent; e) detecting binding of immune cells in the biological sample of the subject to the agent after performance of the method of any one of claims 33 to 47; and f) comparing the amount of binding of immune cells to the agent after performance of the method of any one of claims 33 to 47 to the amount of binding of immune cells in the biological sample to the agent prior to performance of the method of any one of claims 33 to 47; wherein an increase in the binding of immune cells to the agent after performance of the method of any one of claims 33 to 47 when compared to the biological sample of the subject prior to performance of the method of any one of claims 33 to 47 indicates that there is efficacy in the method of any one of claims 33 to 47.

In some embodiments, the agent is a multimer comprising a protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof and appropriate MHC-II molecule.

The some embodiments, a multimer comprises a MHC-II molecule that is DRB1*01:01, DRB1*01:02, DRB1*03:01, DRB1*04:01, DRB1*04:02, DRB1*04:03, DRB1*04:04, DRB1*04:05, DRB1*07:01, DRB1*09:01, DRB1*10:01, DRB1*11:01, DRB1*11:04, DRB1*12:01, DRB1*13:01, DRB1*13:02, DRB1*14:01, DRB1*15:01, DRB3*01:01, DRB3*02:02, DRB4*01:01, DRB5*01:01, DPB1*04:01, DPB1*05:01, or DQB1*06:02. In some embodiments, a multimer is a tetramer. In certain embodiments, an agent comprises a protein or peptide comprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially of IKHIYAISSAALSAS (SEQ ID NO: 13). In certain embodiments, an agent comprises a protein or peptide comprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially of an MHC-II molecule that is DPB1*02:01, DPB1*03:01, DPB1*04:02, DPB1*14:01, DQB1*02:01, DQB1*03:01, DQB1*06:02, DRB1*01:01, DRB1*04:01, DRB1*04:05, DRB1*07:01, DRB1*08:02, DRB1*09:01, DRB1*1101, DRB1*12:01, DRB1*13:02, DRB1*15:01, DRB3*01:01, DRB3*02:02, DRB4*01:01 or DRB5*01:01.

In certain embodiments, the method comprises detecting immune cell activity in the biological sample. In certain embodiments, the method comprises detecting the amount of immune cell activation, immune cell exhaustion, immune cell polarization or apoptosis of immune cells in the biological sample. In certain embodiments, the method comprises detecting the amount of T cell activation, T cell exhaustion, T cell polarization or apoptosis of T cells in the biological sample.

In certain embodiments, a method described herein comprises administering a polypeptide to a subject, the polypeptide comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence of SLFFSAQPFEITAST (p18) (SEQ ID NO: 9), and/or IKHIYAISSAALSAS (SEQ ID NO: 13).

In different embodiments of the presently described methods, the treatment may be administered with a statin. In further embodiments of the presently described methods, the subject may be for example a mouse or a human.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a study diagram of human peptide 18 (SLFFSAQPFEITAST, hP18) (SEQ ID NO: 9) administration.

FIG. 2 shows reduction of aortic plaque lesion by human p18 (SLFFSAQPFEITAST, hP18) (SEQ ID NO: 9).

FIG. 3 shows a gating strategy for CD4 T cells from frozen human PBMCs. Gating for lymphocyte-sized cells (top left), singlets (top middle), live CD3+ cells (top right), CD4 and CD8 (bottom left) and P9 tetramer (bottom right).

FIG. 4 shows CD3+CD4+ human T cells from frozen PBMCs from a DRB1*0101+ (right) and a mismatched (DRB1*0101−) CVD patient were stained for CD4 (x-axis) and P9 tetramer-PE (y-axis).

FIG. 5 shows CD3+CD4+ human T cells from frozen PBMCs from DRB1*0101+ CVD patients and healthy controls (right) and mismatched (DRB1*0101−) CVD patients and healthy controls were stained for P9 tetramer-PE, MFI±SD.

FIG. 6 shows CD3+CD4+ human T cells from frozen PBMCs were stained with P9 tetramer-PE. P9 tetramer-PE+ (red histogram) cells were back-gated (red dots) into the CD4-dump plot (left).

FIG. 7 shows expression of activation and exhaustion markers CD69, O×40 and PD-1 on P9 tetramer+ (tet+, squares) and − (tet−, circles) CD4 T cells from two DRB1*0101 donors with preclinical cardiovascular disease. Gated on CD3+CD4+live cells. All data are percent of tet+ and tet− CD4 T cells.

FIG. 8A-B shows plasma ALT levels determined by chemistry analyser RefloVet Plus (Roche, FIG. 8A) and Reflotron GPT (Roche, FIG. 8B) for Western diet-fed ApoE−/− mice immunized with the peptides indicated (y-axis, P101, P102 and P103) at 50 μg per injection, or were untreated (Untreated) or immunized with adjuvant alone (Adjuvant) according to the schematic shown in FIG. 8C. Plasma was collected and stored at −80 C. 8 untreated mice, 5 adjuvant mice, 5 P101 mice, 5 P102 mice, and 3 P103 mice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present inventors have discovered novel epitopes of ApoB100. In different embodiments, the proteins and peptides of the present invention comprise novel ApoB100 epitopes which may have atherosclerosis promoting (atherogenic) properties or therapeutic (protective) properties.

T cells are involved in the development of atherosclerosis and all the subsets of T cells are found in the arterial plaques. In different embodiments, the proteins and peptides of the present invention comprise T cell epitopes and may potentiate or suppress plaque formation. Thus, T cell populations reactive to the T cell epitopes of the present invention may be targets for immunotherapy. In certain embodiments of the present invention, using specific peptides comprising T cell epitopes of the present invention instead of whole ApoB-100 or LDL (low-density lipoprotein) enables modulation of the specifically activated T cells that participate in the disease processes. Previous studies using whole ApoB-100 or LDL for immunization or vaccination involve a collection of various ApoB-100 peptides that might have opposite effects.

In another aspect, the present inventors have discovered that vaccination with the proteins or peptides of the present invention may provide protection against adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, including in certain embodiments atherosclerosis.

Thus there are presently provided proteins and peptides comprising an ApoB100 amino acid sequence, and sub-sequences, portions or modifications thereof, and methods and compounds for treating an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease. In certain embodiments the methods of the present invention comprise protecting or vaccinating against an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, including but not limited to atherosclerosis.

The present invention is based at least in part on ApoB100 peptides, sub-sequences and portions, and amino acid modifications of ApoB100 peptides, sub-sequences and portions. ApoB100 peptides, sub-sequences, portions, homologues, variants or derivatives thereof, including T cell epitopes that elicit, stimulate, induce, promote, increase or enhance an immune or inflammatory response in vitro or in vivo, are useful in vaccination and immunization (e.g., prophylactic), as well as treatment uses and methods. For example, an invention ApoB100 peptide, sub-sequence, portion or modification thereof, can be used to immunize or vaccinate a subject, or to treat a subject having or at risk of having an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease.

The proteins and peptides of the present invention, and sub-sequences, portions, homologues, variants or derivatives thereof, include T cell epitopes. As used herein an “epitope” refers to a peptide or part thereof that elicits an immune response when administered to a subject. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the epitope is a region of an ApoB100 protein that elicits an immune response when administered to a subject. As will be understood by a person skilled in the art, an immune response may be a cellular or humoral immune response and may comprise an antibody response, a T cell response or both an antibody and T cell response. In particular embodiments of the present invention, a protein or peptide of the present invention comprises an amino acid sequence of ApoB100 that is a T cell epitope.

A non-limiting example of an ApoB100 polypeptide sequence from which peptides, sub-sequences, portions, homologues, variants, derivatives and T cell epitopes may be derived is as follows (SEQ ID NO.: 1):

MDPPRPALLALLALPALLLLLLAGARAEEEMLENVSLVCPKDATRFKHLRKYTYNY EAESSSGVPGTADSRSATRINCKVELEVPQLCSFILKTSQCTLKEVYGFNPEGKALLK KTKNSEEFAAAMSRYELKLAIPEGKQVFLYPEKDEPTYILNIKRGIISALLVPPETEEA KQVLFLDTVYGNCSTHFTVKTRKGNVATEISTERDLGQCDRFKPIRTGISPLALIKGM TRPLSTLISSSQSCQYTLDAKRKHVAEAICKEQHLFLPFSYKNKYGMVAQVTQTLKL EDTPKINSRFFGEGTKKMGLAFESTKSTSPPKQAEAVLKTLQELKKLTISEQNIQRAN LFNKLVTELRGLSDEAVTSLLPQLIEVSSPITLQALVQCGQPQCSTHILQWLKRVHAN PLLIDVVTYLVALIPEPSAQQLREIFNMARDQRSRATLYALSHAVNNYHKTNPTGTQ ELLDIANYLMEQIQDDCTGDEDYTYLILRVIGNMGQTMEQLTPELKSSILKCVQSTKP SLMIQKAAIQALRKMEPKDKDQEVLLQTFLDDASPGDKRLAAYLMLMRSPSQADIN KIVQILPWEQNEQVKNFVASHIANILNSEELDIQDLKKLVKEALKESQLPTVMDFRKF SRNYQLYKSVSLPSLDPASAKIEGNLIFDPNNYLPKESMLKTTLTAFGFASADLIEIGL EGKGFEPTLEALFGKQGFFPDSVNKALYWVNGQVPDGVSKVLVDHFGYTKDDKHE QDMVNGIMLSVEKLIKDLKSKEVPEARAYLRILGEELGFASLHDLQLLGKLLLMGAR TLQGIPQMIGEVIRKGSKNDFFLHYIFMENAFELPTGAGLQLQISSSGVIAPGAKAGV KLEVANMQAELVAKPSVSVEFVTNMGIIIPDFARSGVQMNTNFFHESGLEAHVALK AGKLKFIIPSPKRPVKLLSGGNTLHLVSTTKTEVIPPLIENRQSWSVCKQVFPGLNYCT SGAYSNASSTDSASYYPLTGDTRLELELRPTGEIEQYSVSATYELQREDRALVDTLKF VTQAEGAKQTEATMTFKYNRQSMTLSSEVQIPDFDVDLGTILRVNDESTEGKTSYRL TLDIQNKKITEVALMGHLSCDTKEERKIKGVISIPRLQAEARSEILAHWSPAKLLLQM DSSATAYGSTVSKRVAWHYDEEKIEFEWNTGTNVDTKKMTSNFPVDLSDYPKSLH MYANRLLDHRVPQTDMTFRHVGSKLIVAMSSWLQKASGSLPYTQTLQDHLNSLKE FNLQNMGLPDFHIPENLFLKSDGRVKYTLNKNSLKIEIPLPFGGKSSRDLKMLETVRT PALHFKSVGFHLPSREFQVPTFTIPKLYQLQVPLLGVLDLSTNVYSNLYNWSASYSG GNTSTDHFSLRARYHMKADSVVDLLSYNVQGSGETTYDHKNTFTLSCDGSLRHKFL DSNIKFSHVEKLGNNPVSKGLLIFDASSSWGPQMSASVHLDSKKKQHLFVKEVKIDG QFRVSSFYAKGTYGLSCQRDPNTGRLNGESNLRFNSSYLQGTNQITGRYEDGTLSLT STSDLQSGIIKNTASLKYENYELTLKSDTNGKYKNFATSNKMDMTFSKQNALLRSEY QADYESLRFFSLLSGSLNSHGLELNADILGTDKINSGAHKATLRIGQDGISTSATTNLK CSLLVLENELNAELGLSGASMKLTTNGRFREHNAKFSLDGKAALTELSLGSAYQAMI LGVDSKNIFNFKVSQEGLKLSNDMMGSYAEMKFDHTNSLNIAGLSLDFSSKLDNIYS SDKFYKQTVNLQLQPYSLVTTLNSDLKYNALDLTNNGKLRLEPLKLHVAGNLKGAY QNNEIKHIYAISSAALSASYKADTVAKVQGVEFSHRLNTDIAGLASAIDMSTNYNSD SLHFSNVFRSVMAPFTMTIDAHTNGNGKLALWGEHTGQLYSKFLLKAEPLAFTFSH DYKGSTSHHLVSRKSISAALEHKVSALLTPAEQTGTWKLKTQFNNNEYSQDLDAYN TKDKIGVELTGRTLADLTLLDSPIKVPLLLSEPINIIDALEMRDAVEKPQEFTIVAFVK YDKNQDVHSINLPFFETLQEYFERNRQTIIVVLENVQRNLKHINIDQFVRKYRAALGK LPQQANDYLNSFNWERQVSHAKEKLTALTKKYRITENDIQIALDDAKINFNEKLSQL QTYMIQFDQYIKDSYDLHDLKIAIANIIDEIIEKLKSLDEHYHIRVNLVKTIHDLHLFIE NIDFNKSGSSTASWIQNVDTKYQIRIQIQEKLQQLKRHIQNIDIQHLAGKLKQHIEAID VRVLLDQLGTTISFERINDVLEHVKHFVINLIGDFEVAEKINAFRAKVHELIERYEVD QQIQVLMDKLVELAHQYKLKETIQKLSNVLQQVKIKDYFEKLVGFIDDAVKKLNEL SFKTFIEDVNKFLDMLIKKLKSFDYHQFVDETNDKIREVTQRLNGEIQALELPQKAEA LKLFLEETKATVAVYLESLQDTKITLIINWLQEALSSASLAHMKAKFRETLEDTRDR MYQMDIQQELQRYLSLVGQVYSTLVTYISDWWTLAAKNLTDFAEQYSIQDWAKRM KALVEQGFTVPEIKTILGTMPAFEVSLQALQKATFQTPDFIVPLTDLRIPSVQINFKDL KNIKIPSRFSTPEFTILNTFHIPSFTIDFVEMKVKIIRTIDQMLNSELQWPVPDIYLRDLK VEDIPLARITLPDFRLPEIAIPEFIIPTLNLNDFQVPDLHIPEFQLPHISHTIEVPTFGKLYS ILKIQSPLFTLDANADIGNGTTSANEAGIAASITAKGESKLEVLNFDFQANAQLSNPKI NPLALKESVKFSSKYLRTEHGSEMLFFGNAIEGKSNTVASLHTEKNTLELSNGVIVKI NNQLTLDSNTKYFHKLNIPKLDFSSQADLRNEIKTLLKAGHIAWTSSGKGSWKWAC PRFSDEGTHESQISFTIEGPLTSFGLSNKINSKHLRVNQNLVYESGSLNFSKLEIQSQVD SQHVGHSVLTAKGMALFGEGKAEFTGRHDAHLNGKVIGTLKNSLFFSAQPFEITAST NNEGNLKVRFPLRLTGKIDFLNNYALFLSPSAQQASWQVSARFNQYKYNQNFSAGN NENIMEAHVGINGEANLDFLNIPLTIPEMRLPYTIITTPPLKDFSLWEKTGLKEFLKTT KQSFDLSVKAQYKKNKHRHSITNPLAVLCEFISQSIKSFDRHFEKNRNNALDFVTKSY NETKIKFDKYKAEKSHDELPRTFQIPGYTVPVVNVEVSPFTIEMSAFGYVFPKAVSMP SFSILGSDVRVPSYTLILPSLELPVLHVPRNLKLSLPDFKELCTISHIFIPAMGNITYDFS FKSSVITLNTNAELFNQSDIVAHLLSSSSSVIDALQYKLEGTTRLTRKRGLKLATALSL SNKFVEGSHNSTVSLTTKNMEVSVATTTKAQIPILRMNFKQELNGNTKSKPTVSSSM EFKYDFNSSMLYSTAKGAVDHKLSLESLTSYFSIESSTKGDVKGSVLSREYSGTIASE ANTYLNSKSTRSSVKLQGTSKIDDIWNLEVKENFAGEATLQRIYSLWEHSTKNHLQL EGLFFTNGEHTSKATLELSPWQMSALVQVHASQPSSFHDFPDLGQEVALNANTKNQ KIRWKNEVRIHSGSFQSQVELSNDQEKAHLDIAGSLEGHLRFLKNIILPVYDKSLWDF LKLDVTTSIGRRQHLRVSTAFVYTKNPNGYSFSIPVKVLADKFIIPGLKLNDLNSVLV MPTFHVPFTDLQVPSCKLDFREIQIYKKLRTSSFALNLPTLPEVKFPEVDVLTKYSQPE DSLIPFFEITVPESQLTVSQFTLPKSVSDGIAALDLNAVANKIADFELPTIIVPEQTIEIPS IKFSVPAGIVIPSFQALTARFEVDSPVYNATWSASLKNKADYVETVLDSTCSSTVQFL EYELNVLGTHKIEDGTLASKTKGTFAHRDFSAEYEEDGKYEGLQEWEGKAHLNIKS PAFTDLHLRYQKDKKGISTSAASPAVGTVGMDMDEDDDFSKWNFYYSPQSSPDKKL TIFKTELRVRESDEETQIKVNWEEEAASGLLTSLKDNVPKATGVLYDYVNKYHWEH TGLTLREVSSKLRRNLQNNAEWVYQGAIRQIDDIDVRFQKAASGTTGTYQEWKDKA QNLYQELLTQEGQASFQGLKDNVFDGLVRVTQEFHMKVKHLIDSLIDFLNFPRFQFP GKPGIYTREELCTMFIREVGTVLSQVYSKVHNGSEILFSYFQDLVITLPFELRKHKLID VISMYRELLKDLSKEAQEVFKAIQSLKTTEVLRNLQDLLQFIFQLIEDNIKQLKEMKF TYLINYIQDEINTIFSDYIPYVFKLLKENLCLNLHKFNEFIQNELQEASQELQQIHQYIM ALREEYFDPSIVGWTVKYYELEEKIVSLIKNLLVALKDFHSEYIVSASNFTSQLSSQVE QFLHRNIQEYLSILTDPDGKGKEKIAELSATAQEIIKSQAIATKKIISDYHQQFRYKLQ DFSDQLSDYYEKFIAESKRLIDLSIQNYHTFLIYITELLKKLQSTTVMNPYMKLAPGEL TIIL

T cell epitopes typically are short amino acid sequences, e.g. about five to 15 amino acids in length (or 5-10 amino acids in length). A T cell epitope can elicit, stimulate, induce, promote, increase, enhance an immune or inflammatory T cell response in vitro (e.g., in solution, in solid phase, in tissue culture) or in vivo. Such T cell responses can be detected using various assays disclosed herein or known to the skilled artisan.

A protein or peptide of the present invention includes a protein or peptide comprising, consisting or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence of ApoB100, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof.

In different embodiments of the present invention, the protein or peptide, or sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, comprises, consists, or consists essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof.

As described herein, proteins and peptides include homologues. A polynucleotide sequence or polypeptide sequence is a “homologue” of, or is “homologous” to, another sequence if the two sequences have substantial identity over a specified region and a functional activity of the sequences is preserved or conserved, at least in part (as used herein, the term ‘homologous’ does not infer evolutionary relatedness). Two polynucleotide sequences or polypeptide sequences are considered to have substantial identity if, when optimally aligned (with gaps permitted), they share at least about 60% sequence identity or greater (e.g. 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, etc. identify over a specific region), or if the sequences share defined functional motifs (e.g., epitopes). The percent identity can extend over the entire sequence length or a portion of the sequence. In particular aspects, the length of the sequence sharing the percent identity is 2, 3, 4, 5 or more contiguous amino acids, e.g., 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, etc. contiguous amino acids.

An “unrelated” or “non-homologous” sequence shares less than 50% identity.

The term “identity” and grammatical variations thereof, mean that two or more referenced entities are the same. Thus, where two proteins or peptides, or sub-sequences, portions, homologues, variants or derivatives thereof are identical, they have the same amino acid sequence. The identity can be over a defined area (region or domain) of the sequence. “Areas, regions or domains” of homology or identity mean that a portion of two or more referenced entities share homology or are the same.

The extent of identity between two sequences can be ascertained using a computer program and mathematical algorithm known in the art. Such algorithms that calculate percent sequence identity (homology) generally account for sequence gaps and mismatches over the comparison region or area. For example, a BLAST (e.g., BLAST 2.0) search algorithm (see, e.g., Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403 (1990), publicly available through NCBI) has exemplary search parameters as follows: Mismatch -2; gap open 5; gap extension 2. For polypeptide sequence comparisons, a BLASTP algorithm is typically used in combination with a scoring matrix, such as PAM100, PAM 250, BLOSUM 62 or BLOSUM 50. FASTA (e.g., FASTA2 and FASTA3) and SSEARCH sequence comparison programs are also used to quantitate the extent of identity (Pearson et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:2444 (1988); Pearson, Methods Mol Biol. 132:185 (2000); and Smith et al., J. Mol. Biol. 147:195 (1981)). Programs for quantitating protein structural similarity using Delaunay-based topological mapping have also been developed (Bostick et al., Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 304:320 (2003)).

Thus in certain embodiments, the protein or peptide of the present invention comprises, consists, or consists essentially of homologue of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof.

Additional proteins or peptides, or sub-sequences, portions, homologues, variants or derivatives thereof can be based upon or derived from an ApoB100 amino acid sequence. For example, a protein or peptide of the present invention can comprise an amino acid sequence having 60% or more (e.g., 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 100%) sequence identity with a region of ApoB100. Thus, as disclosed herein, in particular embodiments, the proteins or peptides of the present invention, or sub-sequences, portions, homologues, variants or derivatives thereof include those having at least partial sequence identity to one or more ApoB100 peptides, sub-sequences, portions, homologues, variants or derivatives thereof set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1. The percent identity of such sequences can be as little as 60%, or can be greater (e.g., 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 75% 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, etc.). The percent identity can extend over the entire sequence length or a portion of the sequence. In particular aspects, the length of the sequence sharing the percent identity is 2, 3, 4, 5 or more contiguous amino acids, e.g., 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, etc. contiguous amino acids.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, there are also provided proteins or peptides or sub-sequences, portions, homologues, variants or derivatives thereof that exhibit sequence identity to a reference ApoB100 peptide, sub-sequence or portion, or modification thereof set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1. In one embodiment, a protein or peptide of the present invention, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof comprises, consists or consists essentially of a sequence at least 60% or more (e.g., 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, etc.) identical to a reference ApoB100 protein or peptide, or sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof as set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1.

In another embodiment, proteins or peptides of the present invention, or sub-sequences, portions, homologues, variants or derivatives thereof, include or consist of a an ApoB100 peptide, sub-sequence or portion thereof set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table lwherein the protein or peptide or sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof has one or more modifications, such as an amino acid addition to, deletion of, or substitution of any amino acid residue in any peptide set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1. In particular aspects, a modified sequence is at least 80% or more, e.g., 80-85%, 85-90%, 90-95%, 95-100% identical, to a ApoB100 peptide, or sub-sequence, portion, homologue or derivative thereof set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1 or has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-50, 50-100, or more, additions to, deletions of, or substitutions.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, modified and variant forms of ApoB100 peptides, sub-sequences, portions, homologues or derivatives thereof are provided. Such forms, referred to as “modifications” or “variants” and grammatical variations thereof, mean an ApoB100 peptide, sub-sequence, portion, homologue or derivative thereof that deviates from a reference sequence. Such modifications may have greater or less activity or function than a reference ApoB100 peptide, sub-sequence or portion thereof, such as ability to elicit, stimulate, induce, promote, increase or enhance T cell response or immune or inflammatory response. Thus, proteins or peptides of the present invention, sub-sequences, portions, homologues, variants or derivatives thereof, include sequences having substantially the same, greater or less relative activity or function as a T cell epitope than a reference T cell epitope set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, for example, an ability to elicit, stimulate, induce, promote, increase or enhance a T response in vitro or in vivo.

Non-limiting examples of modifications include one or more amino acid substitutions (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-50, 50-100, or more residues), additions and insertions (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-50, 50-100, or more residues) and deletions (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-50, 50-100) of a reference ApoB100 peptide, sub-sequence, portion, homologue or derivative thereof. In particular embodiments, a modified or variant sequence retains at least part of a function or an activity of unmodified sequence, which can have less than, approximately the same, or greater, but at least a part of, a function or activity of a reference sequence, for example, the ability to elicit, stimulate, induce, promote, increase or enhance a T cell response in vitro or in vivo. Such T cell responses elicited include, for example, among others, induced, increased, enhanced, stimulated or activated expression or production of a cytokine (e.g., IL-1α, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17a, IFN-γ, TNF, GM-CSF).

An addition can be the covalent or non-covalent attachment of any type of molecule to the sequence. Specific examples of additions include glycosylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, amidation, formylation, ubiquitination, and derivatization by protecting/blocking groups and any of numerous chemical modifications. Additional specific non-limiting examples of an addition is one or more additional amino acid residues. Accordingly, proteins or peptides of the present invention including T cell epitopes, sub-sequences, portions, homologues or derivatives thereof can be a part of or contained within a larger molecule, such as another peptide sequence, such as a fusion, heterologous domain or chimera with another ApoB100 sequence, or a non-ApoB100 peptide sequence. In particular embodiments, an addition is a fusion (chimeric) sequence or heterologous domain, an amino acid sequence having one or more molecules not normally present in a reference native (wild type) sequence covalently attached to the sequence.

The term “chimeric” and grammatical variations thereof, when used in reference to a sequence, means that the sequence contains one or more portions that are derived from, obtained or isolated from, or based upon other physical or chemical entities. For example, a chimera of two or more different proteins may have one part an ApoB100 peptide, or sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, and a second part of the chimera may be from a non-ApoB100 sequence.

Another particular example of a modified sequence having an amino acid addition is one in which a second heterologous sequence, i.e., heterologous functional domain is attached (covalent or non-covalent binding) that confers a distinct or complementary function. Heterologous functional domains are not restricted to amino acid residues. Thus, a heterologous functional domain can consist of any of a variety of different types of small or large functional moieties. Such moieties include nucleic acid, peptide, carbohydrate, lipid or small organic compounds, such as a drug (e.g., an antiviral), a metal (gold, silver), and radioisotope. For example, a tag such as T7 or polyhistidine can be attached in order to facilitate purification or detection of a T cell epitope. Thus, in other embodiments the invention provides a protein or peptide comprising an ApoB100 peptide, or sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof and a heterologous domain, wherein the heterologous functional domain confers a distinct function, on the ApoB100 peptide, or sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof. For example, a fusion protein or chimera may comprise an immunoglobulin fusion protein or a monoclonal antibody fusion protein. Such constructs containing an ApoB100 peptide, or sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof and a heterologous domain are also referred to as chimeras.

Linkers, such as amino acid or peptidomimetic sequences may be inserted between the sequence and the addition (e.g., heterologous functional domain) so that the two entities maintain, at least in part, a distinct function or activity. Linkers may have one or more properties that include a flexible conformation, an inability to form an ordered secondary structure or a hydrophobic or charged character which could promote or interact with either domain. Amino acids typically found in flexible protein regions include Gly, Asn and Ser. Other near neutral amino acids, such as Thr and Ala, may also be used in the linker sequence. The length of the linker sequence may vary without significantly affecting a function or activity of the fusion protein (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,087,329). Linkers further include chemical moieties and conjugating agents, such as sulfo-succinimidyl derivatives (sulfo-SMCC, sulfo-SMPB), disuccinimidyl suberate (DSS), disuccinimidyl glutarate (DSG) and disuccinimidyl tartrate (DST).

Further non-limiting examples of additions are detectable labels. Thus, in another embodiment, the invention provides the presently described proteins or peptides, or sub-sequences, portions, homologues, variants or derivatives thereof that are detectably labelled. Specific examples of detectable labels include fluorophores, chromophores, radioactive isotopes (e.g., S³⁵, P³², I¹²⁵), electron-dense reagents, enzymes, ligands and receptors. Enzymes are typically detected by their activity. For example, horseradish peroxidase is usually detected by its ability to convert a substrate such as 3,3-′,5,5-′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to a blue pigment, which can be quantified.

Another non-limiting example of an addition is an insertion of an amino acid within a ApoB100 peptide, or sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof sequence, sub-sequence, portions or modification thereof, set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1. In particular embodiments, an insertion is of one or more amino acid residues inserted into an ApoB100 peptide, or sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1.

Specific non-limiting examples of substitutions include conservative and non-conservative amino acid substitutions. A “conservative substitution” is the replacement of one amino acid by a biologically, chemically or structurally similar residue. Biologically similar means that the substitution does not destroy a biological activity. Structurally similar means that the amino acids have side chains with similar length, such as alanine, glycine and serine, or a similar size. Chemical similarity means that the residues have the same charge or are both hydrophilic or hydrophobic. Particular examples include the substitution of one hydrophobic residue, such as isoleucine, valine, leucine or methionine for another, or the substitution of one polar residue for another, such as the substitution of arginine for lysine, glutamic for aspartic acids, or glutamine for asparagine, serine for threonine, and the like.

Modified and variant proteins and peptides of the present invention, or sub-sequences, portions, homologues, variants or derivatives thereof also include one or more D-amino acids substituted for L-amino acids (and mixtures thereof), structural and functional analogues, for example, peptidomimetics having synthetic or non-natural amino acids or amino acid analogues and derivatized forms. Modifications include cyclic structures such as an end-to-end amide bond between the amino and carboxy-terminus of the molecule or intra- or inter-molecular disulphide bond. Proteins and peptides of the present invention, or sub-sequences, portions, homologues, variants or derivatives thereof, may be modified in vitro or in vivo, e.g., post-translationally modified to include, for example, sugar residues, phosphate groups, ubiquitin, fatty acids, lipids, etc.

Specific non-limiting examples of modifications include at least one amino acid deletion from ApoB100 peptide sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof. In particular embodiments, a peptide sub-sequence or portion is from about 1 to 14 amino acids in length, provided that said sub-sequence or portion is at least one amino acid less in length than the full-length ApoB100 peptide sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a homologue, variant or derivative thereof. In additional particular embodiments, a peptide sub-sequence or portion is from about 1 to 5, 5 to 10, 10 to 14, amino acids in length, provided that said sub-sequence or portion is at least one amino acid less in length than the full-length ApoB100 peptide sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a homologue, variant or derivative thereof.

As used herein, a sub-sequence of a protein or peptide includes or consists of one or more amino acids less than the full-length protein or peptide. The term “sub-sequence” means a fragment or part of the full-length molecule. A sub-sequence of a protein or peptide has one or more amino acids less than the full-length protein or peptide (e.g. one or more internal or terminal amino acid deletions from either amino or carboxy-termini). Sub-sequences therefore can be any length up to the full-length native molecule, provided said length is at least one amino acid less than full-length native molecule.

Sub-sequences can vary in size. For example a sub-sequence of a protein or peptide can be as small as an epitope capable of binding an antibody (i.e. about five amino acids) up to a polypeptide that is one amino acid less than the entire length of a reference protein or peptide.

In various embodiments, a sub-sequence of the protein or peptides of the present invention is characterized as including or consisting of a sub-sequence of an ApoB100 peptide set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or homologue, variant or derivative thereof.

As used herein, sub-sequences may also include or consist of one or more amino acid additions or deletions, wherein the sub-sequence does not comprise the full-length ApoB100 peptide set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a homologue, variant or derivative thereof. Accordingly, total sub-sequence lengths can be greater than the length of the full-length ApoB100 peptide set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, a homologue, variant or derivative thereof, for example, where a sub-sequence of anApoB100 peptide set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table lis fused or forms a chimera with another polypeptide.

Proteins or peptides of the present invention, or sub-sequences, portions, homologues, derivative thereof including variant or modified forms can be produced by any of a variety of standard protein purification or recombinant expression techniques. For example, a peptide, sub-sequence, portion, homologue, derivative or variant thereof can be produced by standard peptide synthesis techniques, such as solid-phase synthesis. A portion of the protein may contain an amino acid sequence such as a T7 tag or polyhistidine sequence to facilitate purification of expressed or synthesized protein. The protein may be expressed in a cell and purified. The protein may be expressed as a part of a larger protein (e.g., a fusion or chimera) by recombinant methods.

Proteins or peptides of the present invention, or sub-sequences, portions, homologues, derivative or variants thereof can be made using recombinant DNA technology via cell expression or in vitro translation. Polypeptide sequences including modified forms can also be produced by chemical synthesis using methods known in the art, for example, an automated peptide synthesis apparatus (see, e.g., Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.).

The invention provides isolated and/or purified protein or peptides comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof. In particular embodiments, the isolated and/or purified proteins or peptides, or sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof includes a T cell epitope.

The term “isolated,” when used as a modifier of a composition (e.g., ApoB100 peptides, or sub-sequences, portions, homologues, variants or derivatives thereof, nucleic acids encoding same, etc.), means that the compositions are made by the hand of man or are separated, completely or at least in part, from their naturally occurring in vivo environment. Generally, isolated compositions are substantially free of one or more materials with which they normally associate with in nature, for example, one or more protein, nucleic acid, lipid, carbohydrate, cell membrane. The term “isolated” does not exclude alternative physical forms of the composition, such as fusions/chimeras, multimers/oligomers, modifications (e.g., phosphorylation, glycosylation, lipidation) or derivatized forms, or forms expressed in host cells produced by the hand of man.

An “isolated” composition (e.g., ApoB100 peptides, or sub-sequences, portions, homologues, variants or derivatives thereof) can also be “substantially pure” or “purified” when free of most or all of the materials with which it typically associates with in nature. Thus, an isolated ApoB100 peptide, or sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof that also is substantially pure or purified does not include polypeptides or polynucleotides present among millions of other sequences, such as peptides of a peptide library or nucleic acids in a genomic or cDNA library, for example.

A “substantially pure” or “purified” composition can be combined with one or more other molecules. Thus, “substantially pure” or “purified” does not exclude combinations of compositions, such as combinations of ApoB100 peptides, or sub-sequences, portions, homologues, variants or derivatives thereof (e.g., multiple T cell epitopes), and combination of an ApoB100 peptide, or sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof with other antigens, agents, drugs or therapies.

The invention also provides nucleic acids encoding proteins or peptides comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof. Such nucleic acid sequences encode a peptide sequence at least 75% or more (e.g., 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, etc.) identical to an ApoB100 amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1. In an additional embodiment, a nucleic acid encodes a sequence having a modification, such as one or more amino acid additions (insertions), deletions or substitutions of an ApoB100 amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1.

The terms “nucleic acid,” “polynucleotide” and “polynucleoside” and the like refer to at least two or more ribo- or deoxy-ribonucleic acid base pairs (nucleotides/nucleosides) that are linked through a phosphoester bond or equivalent. Nucleic acids include polynucleotides and polynucleosides. Nucleic acids include single, double or triplex, circular or linear, molecules. Exemplary nucleic acids include but are not limited to: RNA, DNA, cDNA, genomic nucleic acid, naturally occurring and non naturally occurring nucleic acid, e.g., synthetic nucleic acid.

Nucleic acids can be of various lengths. Nucleic acid lengths typically range from about 20 bases to 20 Kilobases (Kb), or any numerical value or range within or encompassing such lengths, 10 bases to 10Kb, 1 to 5 Kb or less, 1000 to about 500 bases or less in length. Nucleic acids can also be shorter, for example, 100 to about 500 bases, or from about 12 to 25, 25 to 50, 50 to 100, 100 to 250, or about 250 to 500 bases in length, or any numerical value or range or value within or encompassing such lengths. In particular aspects, a nucleic acid sequence has a length from about 10-20, 20-30, 30-50, 50-100, 100-150, 150-200, 200-250, 250-300, 300-400, 400-500, 500-1000, 1000-2000 bases, or any numerical value or range within or encompassing such lengths. Shorter nucleic acids are commonly referred to as “oligonucleotides” or “probes” of single- or double-stranded DNA. However, there is no upper limit to the length of such oligonucleotides.

Nucleic acid sequences further include nucleotide and nucleoside substitutions, additions and deletions, as well as derivatized forms and fusion/chimeric sequences (e.g., encoding recombinant polypeptide). For example, due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, nucleic acids include sequences and sub-sequences degenerate with respect to nucleic acids that encode an ApoB100 peptide comprising, consisting or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, as well as variants and modifications thereof (e.g., substitutions, additions, insertions and deletions).

Nucleic acids can be produced using various standard cloning and chemical synthesis techniques. Techniques include, but are not limited to nucleic acid amplification, e.g., polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with genomic DNA or cDNA targets using primers (e.g., a degenerate primer mixture) capable of annealing to the encoding sequence. Nucleic acids can also be produced by chemical synthesis (e.g., solid phase phosphoramidite synthesis) or transcription from a gene. The sequences produced can then be translated in vitro, or cloned into a plasmid and propagated and then expressed in a cell (e.g., a host cell such as eukaryote or mammalian cell, yeast or bacteria, in an animal or in a plant).

Nucleic acid may be inserted into a nucleic acid construct in which expression of the nucleic acid is influenced or regulated by an “expression control element.” An “expression control element” refers to a nucleic acid sequence element that regulates or influences expression of a nucleic acid sequence to which it is operatively linked. Expression control elements include, as appropriate, promoters, enhancers, transcription terminators, gene silencers, a start codon (e.g., ATG) in front of a protein-encoding gene, etc.

An expression control element operatively linked to a nucleic acid sequence controls transcription and, as appropriate, translation of the nucleic acid sequence. Expression control elements include elements that activate transcription constitutively, that are inducible (i.e., require an external signal for activation), or derepressible (i.e., require a signal to turn transcription off; when the signal is no longer present, transcription is activated or “derepressed”), or specific for cell-types or tissues (i.e., tissue-specific control elements).

Nucleic acid can also be inserted into a plasmid for propagation into a host cell and for subsequent genetic manipulation. A plasmid is a nucleic acid that can be propagated in a host cell, plasmids may optionally contain expression control elements in order to drive expression of the nucleic acid encoding an ApoB100 peptide comprising, consisting or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, in the host cell. A vector is used herein synonymously with a plasmid and may also include an expression control element for expression in a host cell (e.g., expression vector). Plasmids and vectors generally contain at least an origin of replication for propagation in a cell and a promoter. Plasmids and vectors are therefore useful for genetic manipulation and expression of proteins or peptides of the present invention, or sub-sequences, portion, homologues, variants or derivatives thereof. Accordingly, vectors that include nucleic acids encoding or complementary to an ApoB100 peptide comprising, consisting or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof are provided.

In accordance with the invention, there are provided particles (e.g., viral particles) and transformed host cells that express and/or are transformed with a nucleic acid that encodes and/or express an ApoB100 peptide comprising, consisting or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof. Particles and transformed host cells include but are not limited to virions, and prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells such as bacteria, fungi (yeast), plant, insect, and animal (e.g., mammalian, including primate and human, CHO cells and hybridomas) cells. For example, bacteria transformed with recombinant bacteriophage nucleic acid, plasmid nucleic acid or cosmid nucleic acid expression vectors; yeast transformed with recombinant yeast expression vectors; plant cell systems infected with recombinant virus expression vectors (e.g., cauliflower mosaic virus, CaMV; tobacco mosaic virus, TMV) or transformed with recombinant plasmid expression vectors (e.g., Ti plasmid); insect cell systems infected with recombinant virus expression vectors (e.g., baculovirus); and animal cell systems infected with recombinant virus expression vectors (e.g., retroviruses, adenovirus, vaccinia virus), or transformed animal cell systems engineered for stable expression. The cells may be a primary cell isolate, cell culture (e.g., passaged, established or immortalized cell line), or part of a plurality of cells, or a tissue or organ ex vivo or in a subject (in vivo). Transfected or transformed cells of the invention may include tolerogenic dendritic cells or other antigen presenting cells that may enhance the disease reducing activity of the ApoB100 protein or peptide of the invention.

The term “transformed” or “transfected” when used in reference to a cell (e.g., a host cell) or organism, means a genetic change in a cell following incorporation of an exogenous molecule, for example, a protein or nucleic acid (e.g., a transgene) into the cell. Thus, a “transfected” or “transformed” cell is a cell into which, or a progeny thereof in which an exogenous molecule has been introduced by the hand of man, for example, by recombinant DNA techniques.

The nucleic acid or protein can be stably or transiently transfected or transformed (expressed) in the host cell and progeny thereof. The cell(s) can be propagated and the introduced protein expressed, or nucleic acid transcribed. A progeny of a transfected or transformed cell may not be identical to the parent cell, since there may be mutations that occur during replication.

Expression of an ApoB100 peptide comprising, consisting or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof and nucleic acid encoding such peptides in particles or introduction into target cells (e.g., host cells) can also be carried out by methods known in the art. Non-limiting examples include osmotic shock (e.g., calcium phosphate), electroporation, microinjection, cell fusion, etc. Introduction of nucleic acid and polypeptide in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo can also be accomplished using other techniques. For example, a polymeric substance, such as polyesters, polyamine acids, hydrogel, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, ethylene-vinylacetate, methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, protamine sulfate, or lactide/glycolide copolymers, polylactide/glycolide copolymers, or ethylenevinylacetate copolymers. A nucleic acid can be entrapped in microcapsules prepared by coacervation techniques or by interfacial polymerization, for example, by the use of hydroxymethylcellulose or gelatin-microcapsules, or poly (methylmethacrolate) microcapsules, respectively, or in a colloid system. Colloidal dispersion systems include macromolecule complexes, nano-capsules, microspheres, beads, and lipid-based systems, including oil-in-water emulsions, micelles, mixed micelles, and liposomes.

Liposomes for introducing various compositions into cells are known in the art and include, for example, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, lipofectin and DOTAP (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,844,904, 5,000,959, 4,863,740, and 4,975,282; and GIBCO-BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.). Piperazine based amphilic cationic lipids useful for gene therapy also are known (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,397). Cationic lipid systems also are known (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,127). Polymeric substances, microcapsules and colloidal dispersion systems such as liposomes are collectively referred to herein as “vesicles.” Accordingly, viral and non-viral vector means delivery into cells are included.

As disclosed herein, an ApoB100 peptide comprising, consisting or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof may elicit a cellular or humoral immune response. In particular embodiments of the present invention, the proteins or peptides of the present invention may elicit, stimulate, induce, promote, increase or enhance an immune or inflammatory response. In certain embodiments, the proteins or peptides of the present invention may elicit, stimulate induce, promote, increase or enhance a T cell response.

However, the present inventors have found that an ApoB100 peptide comprising, consisting or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof may produce a pro-inflammatory or atherogenic response or alternatively an anti-inflammatory or protective response depending on the manner in which the peptide is administered. For example, changes in the type of adjuvant administered with the peptides, the timing of administration, the amount of peptide administered may all effect whether a peptide produces an atherogenic or protective response.

As used herein an atherogenic response refers to a inducing, promoting, increasing or enhancing the development, severity, or symptoms of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, including for example, atherosclerosis. In certain embodiments, an atherogenic response comprises an increase in the occurrence or size of atherosclerosis lesions.

As used herein, a protective response refers to decreasing, reducing, inhibiting, suppressing or disrupting the development, severity, or symptoms of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, including for example, atherosclerosis. In certain embodiments, an atherogenic response comprises a decrease in the occurrence or size of atherosclerosis lesions.

Thus in certain embodiments of the present invention, a protein or peptide comprising, consisting or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof may produce an atherogenic response. In other embodiments, of the present invention, a protein or peptide comprising, consisting or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof may produce a protective response. Such responses can provide protection against (e.g., prophylaxis) an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis) or a secondary or subsequent occurrence of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis). Such responses can also be effective in treatment (e.g., therapeutic) of an initial adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis), or a secondary or subsequent adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease.

In particular embodiments, the proteins or peptides of the present invention may decrease, reduce, inhibit, suppress or disrupt an immune or inflammatory response. In still further embodiments, the proteins or peptides of the present invention may elicit, stimulate, induce, promote, increase or enhance an anti- immune or anti- inflammatory response.

The proteins or peptides of the present invention, or sub-sequences, portions, homologues, variants or derivatives thereof can be employed in various methods, uses and compositions. In different embodiments, the methods, uses and compositions of the present invention comprise a protein or peptide comprising, consisting or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof.

Such methods and uses include, for example, use, contact or administration of one or more proteins or peptides of the present invention, or sub-sequences, portions, homologues, variants or derivatives in vitro and in vivo. Such methods are applicable to providing a subject with protection vaccinate against an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis), and also are applicable to providing treatment to a subject for an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis).

In certain embodiments of the present invention, proteins or peptides of the present invention, or sub-sequences, portions, homologues, variants or derivatives thereof may be used as vaccine antigens to vaccinate against an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis), or one or more physiological conditions, disorders, illness, diseases or symptoms caused by or associated with an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis).

Thus, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there are provided methods for vaccination and immunization to protect against an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis).

In one embodiment, there is provided a method of vaccinating a subject against an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, the method comprising administering to the subject an amount of protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, sufficient to vaccinate the subject against the adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease.

As used herein, the terms “vaccination”, “vaccinate”, “protection”, “protect” and grammatical variations thereof, when used in reference to an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, means preventing an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, or reducing or decreasing susceptibility to an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, or reducing or decreasing severity of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, or preventing or reducing one or more symptoms or pathologies caused by or associated with an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease. In particular embodiments, the method of vaccinating a subject against an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease of the present invention comprises a method of vaccinating a subject against atherosclerosis.

In another aspect of the present invention there are provided methods for treatment of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis).

Thus, in one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of treating a subject for an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, the method comprising administering to the subject an amount of protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, sufficient to treat the subject for the adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease.

As will be understood by a person skilled in the art, treating a subject for an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease may include decreasing, reducing, inhibiting, suppressing, limiting, controlling or eliminating an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease. In other embodiments, a method of treating a subject for an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease comprises reducing the frequency, severity, progression, or duration of the adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease in the subject. In yet another embodiment, a method of treating a subject for an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease comprises maintaining the severity of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease in a subject by preventing an increase in the occurrence, frequency, severity, progression, or duration of the adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease in the subject. In still further embodiments, a method of treating a subject for an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease comprises eliminating, reducing or maintaining the occurrence, frequency, severity, progression, or duration of physiological conditions, disorders, illnesses, diseases, symptoms or complications caused by or associated with the adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease.

In certain embodiments, the subject of the methods provided herein may have been previously had an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease. Thus, in certain embodiments, the present methods may be used for treating or protecting a subject from a secondary or subsequent adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease. Thus in different embodiments, the presently described methods of vaccination and treatment may be used for prophylactic vaccination against or treatment of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease or can be used to vaccinate against or treatment of a secondary or subsequent occurrence of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease. In particular embodiments, the methods may be used to vaccinate against or treat an adverse symptom of the adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease.

In accordance with different embodiments of the present invention, the therapeutic and prophylactic methods of vaccinating against and treating a subject for an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease include but are not limited to treatment of a subject having or at risk of having an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, treating a subject with an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, and methods of protecting a subject from an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g., provide the subject with protection against the development or incidence of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease), to decrease or reduce the probability of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease in a subject, to decrease or reduce susceptibility of a subject to an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease and to inhibit or prevent an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease in a subject. In particular embodiments of the methods described herein, one or more disorders, diseases, physiological conditions, pathologies and symptoms associated with or caused by an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease will respond to vaccination or treatment.

Non-limiting examples of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease are atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, renal artery disease, stroke, myocardial infarction (heart attack), ischemic heart failure, transient ischemic attack or brain trauma, artherosclerotic plaque formation, foam cells or foam cell formation, or one or more adverse symptoms, disorders, illnesses, pathologies, diseases, or complications caused by or associated with an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease such as atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, renal artery disease, stroke, myocardial infarction (heart attack), ischemic heart failure, transient ischemic attack or brain trauma), artherosclerotic plaque formation or foam cells or foam cell formation.

In certain embodiments of the presently described methods, two or more proteins or peptides comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, may be administered to a subject. As will be understood by a skilled person two or more proteins or peptides comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, may be administered as a combination composition, or administered separately, such as concurrently or in series or sequentially. Different proteins or peptides of the present invention, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, may be administered to a subject in the same amount, volume or concentration or different amounts, volumes or concentrations. Thus in certain embodiments, the subject may be administered the same amount of two or more different proteins or peptides of the present invention, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof. In other embodiments, the subject may be administered one a protein or peptide of the present invention, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, in a amount, volume or concentration greater than one or more other protein or peptide of the present invention, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, administered to the subject.

Methods of the invention include methods of vaccination or treatment that result in any therapeutic or beneficial effect. In various methods embodiments, an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease is reduced, decreased, inhibited, limited, delayed or prevented, or a method decreases, reduces, inhibits, suppresses, prevents, controls or limits one or more adverse (e.g., physical) symptoms, disorders, illnesses, diseases or complications caused by or associated with adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease. In additional various particular embodiments, methods of the present invention include reducing, decreasing, inhibiting, delaying or preventing onset, progression, frequency, duration, severity, probability or susceptibility of one or more adverse symptoms, disorders, illnesses, diseases or complications caused by or associated with an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease. In further various particular embodiments, methods of the present invention include improving, accelerating, facilitating, enhancing, augmenting, or hastening recovery of a subject from an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, or one or more adverse symptoms, disorders, illnesses, diseases or complications caused by or associated with an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease. In yet additional various embodiments, methods of treatment include stabilizing an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, or an adverse symptom, disorder, illness, disease or complication caused by or associated with an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease.

A therapeutic or beneficial effect of vaccination or treatment is therefore any objective or subjective measurable or detectable improvement or benefit provided to a particular subject. A therapeutic or beneficial effect can but need not be complete ablation of or protection from all or any particular adverse symptom, disorder, illness, disease or complication caused by or associated with adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease Thus, a satisfactory clinical endpoint is achieved when there is an incremental improvement or a partial reduction in an adverse symptom, disorder, illness, disease or complication caused by or associated with an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease or an inhibition, decrease, reduction, suppression, prevention, limit or control of worsening or progression of one or more adverse symptoms, disorders, illnesses, diseases or complications caused by or associated with an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease over a short or long duration (hours, days, weeks, months, etc.).

A therapeutic or beneficial effect also includes reducing or eliminating the need, dosage frequency or amount of a second active such as another drug or other agent used for treating a subject having or at risk of having an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease For example, reducing an amount of an adjunct therapy, for example, a reduction or decrease of a treatment for an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, or a vaccination or immunization protocol for an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease is considered a beneficial effect. In addition, reducing or decreasing an amount of protein or peptide used for vaccination or immunization of a subject to provide protection to the subject is considered a beneficial effect.

In another aspect of the present invention there is provided a composition comprising a protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof. In different embodiments, the composition of the present invention may comprise an adjuvant. In certain embodiment, the composition of the present invention may be a solid or a liquid. In particular embodiments, the composition of the present invention is a vaccine.

Methods and compositions of the invention include administration of a protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, to a subject prior to development of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, administration substantially contemporaneously with development of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, and administration after development of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease. Methods and compositions of the invention also include administration of a protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, to a subject prior to, substantially contemporaneously with or following development of an adverse symptom, disorder, illness or disease caused by or associated with an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease. A subject suffering from an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease or an adverse symptom, disorder, illness or disease caused by or associated with an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease have the adverse cardiovascular event, cardiovascular disease or symptom over a period of 1-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-50, 50-100 hours, days, months, or years.

Methods and compositions of the invention include administration of a protein or peptide comprising, consisting or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, to a subject alone or in combination with any compound, agent, drug, treatment or other therapeutic regimen or protocol having a desired therapeutic, beneficial, additive, synergistic or complementary activity or effect.

Exemplary combination compositions and treatments include multiple proteins or peptides comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, such as T cell epitopes as described herein, and second actives, such as compounds, agents, drugs, treatments and therapies for the treatment of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. statins, fibrate), as well as agents that assist, promote, stimulate or enhance efficacy. Such compounds, agents, drugs, treatments and therapies can be administered or performed prior to, substantially contemporaneously with or following any composition or method of the invention, for example, a therapeutic use or method of vaccinating or treating a subject for an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis), or a method of prophylactic vaccination or treatment of a subject for an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis).

Invention compositions comprising a protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, and methods described herein can be combined with any compound, agent, drug, treatment or other therapeutic regimen or protocol having a desired therapeutic, beneficial, additive, synergistic or complementary activity or effect. Exemplary combination compositions and treatments include multiple proteins or peptides comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, such as T cell epitopes as described herein, and second actives, such as compounds, agents, drugs, treatments and therapies for the treatment of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. statins, fibrate), as well as agents that assist, promote, stimulate or enhance efficacy. Such compounds, agents, drugs, treatments and therapies can be administered or performed prior to, substantially contemporaneously with or following any composition or method of the invention, for example, a therapeutic use or method of vaccinating or treating a subject for an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis), or a method of prophylactic vaccination or treatment of a subject for an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis).

The invention therefore provides combinations of one or more proteins or peptides comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, in combination with a second active, including but not limited to any compound, agent, drug, therapeutic regimen, treatment protocol, process, remedy or composition, such as a treatment or vaccination protocol set forth herein or known in the art. The compound, agent, drug, therapeutic regimen, treatment protocol, process, remedy or composition can be administered or performed prior to, substantially contemporaneously with or following administration of one or more proteins or peptides comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, or a nucleic acid encoding all or a portion (e.g., a T cell epitope) of proteins or peptides comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, to a subject. Specific non-limiting examples of combination embodiments therefore include the foregoing or other compound, agent, drug, therapeutic regimen, treatment protocol, process, remedy or composition.

In invention methods, uses an compositions for which there is a desired outcome, such as a therapeutic or prophylactic method that provides a benefit from treatment, vaccination or immunization, a protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, can be administered in a sufficient or effective amount.

As used herein, a “sufficient amount” or “effective amount” or an “amount sufficient” or an “amount effective” refers to an amount that provides, in single (e.g., primary) or multiple (e.g., booster) doses, alone or in combination with one or more other compounds, treatments, therapeutic regimens or agents (e.g., a drug), a long term or a short term detectable or measurable improvement in a given subject or any objective or subjective benefit to a given subject of any degree or for any time period or duration (e.g., for minutes, hours, days, months, years, or cured).

An amount sufficient or an amount effective can but need not be provided in a single administration and can but need not be achieved by a protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, alone, optionally in a combination composition or method that includes a second active. In addition, an amount sufficient or an amount effective need not be sufficient or effective if given in single or multiple doses without a second or additional administration or dosage, since additional doses, amounts or duration above and beyond such doses, or additional antigens, compounds, drugs, agents, treatment or therapeutic regimens may be included in order to provide a given subject with a detectable or measurable improvement or benefit to the subject. For example, to increase, enhance, improve or optimize immunization and/or vaccination, after an initial or primary administration of one or more proteins or peptides comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, to a subject, the subject can be administered one or more additional “boosters” of one or more proteins or peptides comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof. Such subsequent “booster” administrations can be of the same or a different formulation, dose or concentration, route, etc.

An amount sufficient or an amount effective need not be therapeutically or prophylactically effective in each and every subject treated, nor a majority of subjects treated in a given group or population. An amount sufficient or an amount effective means sufficiency or effectiveness in a particular subject, not a group of subjects or the general population. As is typical for such methods, different subjects will exhibit varied responses to a method of the invention, such as immunization, vaccination and therapeutic treatments.

The term “subject” refers includes but is not limited to a subject at risk of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis), as well as a subject that has already developed an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis). Such subjects, include mammalian animals (mammals), such as a non human primate (apes, gibbons, gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, macaques), a domestic animal (dogs and cats), a farm animal (poultry such as chickens and ducks, horses, cows, goats, sheep, pigs), experimental animal (mouse, rat, rabbit, guinea pig) and humans. Subjects include animal disease models, for example, mouse and other animal models of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis) known in the art.

Accordingly, subjects appropriate for vaccination or treatment include those having or at risk of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis), also referred to as subjects in need of treatment. Subjects in need of vaccination or treatment therefore include subjects that have been previously had an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis) or that have an ongoing adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis) or have developed one or more adverse symptoms caused by or associated with an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis), regardless of the type, timing or degree of onset, progression, severity, frequency, duration of the symptoms.

Prophylactic uses and methods are therefore included. Target subjects for prophylaxis may be at increased risk (probability or susceptibility) of developing an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis). Such subjects are considered in need of treatment due to being at risk.

Subjects for prophylaxis need not be at increased risk but may be from the general population in which it is desired to vaccinate or immunize a subject against an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis), for example. Such a subject that is desired to be vaccinated or immunized against an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis) can be administered a protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof. In another non-limiting example, a subject that is not specifically at risk for an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis), but nevertheless desires protection against an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis), can be administered a protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof. Such subjects are also considered in need of treatment.

“Prophylaxis” and grammatical variations thereof mean a method in which contact, administration or in vivo delivery to a subject is prior to development of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease. In certain situations it may not be known that a subject has developed an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, but administration or in vivo delivery to a subject can be performed prior to manifestation of disease pathology or an associated adverse symptom, condition, complication, etc. caused by or associated with an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease. In such case, a composition or method of the present invention can eliminate, prevent, inhibit, suppress, limit, decrease or reduce the probability of or susceptibility to an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular, or an adverse symptom, condition or complication associated with or caused by an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease.

“Prophylaxis” can also refer to a method in which contact, administration or in vivo delivery to a subject is prior to a secondary or subsequent exposure or infection. In such a situation, a subject may have had a prior adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease or prior adverse symptom, condition or complication associated with or caused by an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease. Vaccination or treatment by administration or in vivo delivery to such a subject, can be performed prior to a secondary or subsequent adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease. Such a method can eliminate, prevent, inhibit, suppress, limit, decrease or reduce the probability of or susceptibility towards a secondary or subsequent adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, or an adverse symptom, condition or complication associated with or caused by or associated with a secondary or subsequent adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease.

Treatment of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease can be at any time during the adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease. A protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, can be administered as a combination (e.g., with a second active), or separately concurrently or in sequence (sequentially) in accordance with the methods described herein as a single or multiple dose e.g., one or more times hourly, daily, weekly, monthly or annually or between about 1 to 10 weeks, or for as long as appropriate, for example, to achieve a reduction in the onset, progression, severity, frequency, duration of one or more symptoms or complications associated with or caused by an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis), or an adverse symptom, condition or complication associated with or caused by an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease (e.g. atherosclerosis). Thus, a method can be practiced one or more times (e.g., 1-10, 1-5 or 1-3 times) an hour, day, week, month, or year. The skilled artisan will know when it is appropriate to delay or discontinue administration. A non-limiting dosage schedule is 1-7 times per week, for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20 or more weeks, and any numerical value or range or value within such ranges.

Methods of the invention may be practiced by any mode of administration or delivery, or by any route, systemic, regional and local administration or delivery. Exemplary administration and delivery routes include intravenous (i.v.), intraperitoneal (i.p.), intrarterial, intramuscular, parenteral, subcutaneous, intra-pleural, topical, dermal, intradermal, transdermal, transmucosal, intra-cranial, intra-spinal, rectal, oral (alimentary), mucosal, inhalation, respiration, intranasal, intubation, intrapulmonary, intrapulmonary instillation, buccal, sublingual, intravascular, intrathecal, intracavity, iontophoretic, intraocular, ophthalmic, optical, intraglandular, intraorgan, or intralymphatic.

Doses can be based upon current existing protocols, empirically determined, using animal disease models or optionally in human clinical trials. Initial study doses can be based upon animal studies, e.g. a mouse, and the amount of protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, administered that is determined to be effective. Exemplary non-limiting amounts (doses) are in a range of about 0.1 mg/kg to about 100 mg/kg, and any numerical value or range or value within such ranges. Greater or lesser amounts (doses) can be administered, for example, 0.01-500 mg/kg, and any numerical value or range or value within such ranges. The dose can be adjusted according to the mass of a subject, and will generally be in a range from about 1-10 ug/kg, 10-25 ug/kg, 25-50 ug/kg, 50-100 ug/kg,100-500 ug/kg, 500-1,000 ug/kg, 1-5 mg/kg, 5-10 mg/kg, 10-20 mg/kg, 20-50 mg/kg, 50-100 mg/kg, 100-250 mg/kg, 250-500 mg/kg, or more, two, three, four, or more times per hour, day, week, month or annually. A typical range will be from about 0.3 mg/kg to about 50 mg/kg, 0-25 mg/kg, or 1.0-10 mg/kg, or any numerical value or range or value within such ranges.

Doses can vary and depend upon whether the treatment is prophylactic or therapeutic, whether a subject has previously had an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, the onset, progression, severity, frequency, duration probability of or susceptibility of the symptom, condition, pathology or complication, the vaccination protocol and compositions, the clinical endpoint desired, the occurrence of previous or simultaneous treatments, the general health, age, gender, race or immunological competency of the subject and other factors that will be appreciated by the skilled artisan. The skilled artisan will appreciate the factors that may influence the dosage and timing required to provide an amount sufficient for providing a therapeutic or prophylactic benefit.

The dose amount, number, frequency or duration may be proportionally increased or reduced, as indicated by the status of the subject. For example, whether the subject has previously had an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, whether the subject is merely at risk of an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, exposure or infection, whether the subject has been previously vaccinated against an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease. The dose amount, number, frequency or duration may be proportionally increased or reduced, as indicated by any adverse side effects, complications or other risk factors of the treatment or therapy.

In the methods of the invention, the route, dose, number and frequency of administrations, treatments, immunizations or vaccinations, and timing/intervals between treatment, immunization and vaccination, and disease development can be modified. In certain embodiments, a desirable vaccine of the present invention will elicit robust, long-lasting immunity against an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease. Thus, in certain embodiments, invention methods, uses and compositions provide long-lasting immunity to an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease such as atherosclerosis.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, a protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, may be provided as pharmaceutical compositions.

As used herein the term “pharmaceutically acceptable” and “physiologically acceptable” mean a biologically acceptable formulation, gaseous, liquid or solid, or mixture thereof, which is suitable for one or more routes of administration, in vivo delivery or contact. Such formulations include solvents (aqueous or non-aqueous), solutions (aqueous or non-aqueous), emulsions (e.g., oil-in-water or water-in-oil), suspensions, syrups, elixirs, dispersion and suspension media, coatings, isotonic and absorption promoting or delaying agents, compatible with pharmaceutical administration or in vivo contact or delivery. Aqueous and non-aqueous solvents, solutions and suspensions may include suspending agents and thickening agents. Such pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include tablets (coated or uncoated), capsules (hard or soft), microbeads, powder, granules and crystals. Supplementary active compounds (e.g., preservatives, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal agents) can also be incorporated into the compositions.

Pharmaceutical compositions can be formulated to be compatible with a particular route of administration. Thus, pharmaceutical compositions include carriers, diluents, or excipients suitable for administration by various routes. Exemplary routes of administration for contact or in vivo delivery which a composition can optionally be formulated include inhalation, respiration, intranasal, intubation, intrapulmonary instillation, oral, buccal, intrapulmonary, intradermal, topical, dermal, parenteral, sublingual, subcutaneous, intravascular, intrathecal, intraarticular, intracavity, transdermal, iontophoretic, intraocular, opthalmic, optical, intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular, intraglandular, intraorgan, or intralymphatic.

Formulations suitable for parenteral administration comprise aqueous and non-aqueous solutions, suspensions or emulsions of the active compound, which preparations are typically sterile and can be isotonic with the blood of the intended recipient. Non-limiting illustrative examples include water, saline, dextrose, fructose, ethanol, animal, vegetable or synthetic oils.

To increase an vaccination, a protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, can be coupled to another protein such as ovalbumin or keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), thyroglobulin or a toxin such as tetanus or cholera toxin. Invention proteins or peptides, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, can also be mixed with adjuvants. As demonstrated herein, in certain embodiments, the form of adjuvant with which the invention proteins or peptides are mixed may change whether the protein or peptide elicits an atherogenic or protective response in a subject.

Adjuvants include, for example: Oil (mineral or organic) emulsion adjuvants such as Freund's complete (CFA) and incomplete adjuvant (IFA) (WO 95/17210; WO 98/56414; WO 99/12565; WO 99/11241; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,109); metal and metallic salts, such as aluminum and aluminum salts, such as aluminum phosphate or aluminum hydroxide, alum (hydrated potassium aluminum sulfate); bacterially derived compounds, such as Monophosphoryl lipid A and derivatives thereof (e.g., 3 De-O-acylated monophosphoryl lipid A, aka 3D-MPL or d3-MPL, to indicate that position 3 of the reducing end glucosamine is de-O-acylated, 3D-MPL consisting of the tri and tetra acyl congeners), and enterobacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS); plant derived saponins and derivatives thereof, for example Quil A (isolated from the Quilaja Saponaria Molina tree, see, e.g., “Saponin adjuvants”, Archiv. fur die gesamte Virusforschung, Vol. 44, Springer Verlag, Berlin, p243-254; U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,540), and fragments of Quil A which retain adjuvant activity without associated toxicity, for example QS7 and QS21 (also known as QA7 and QA21), as described in WO96/33739, for example; surfactants such as, soya lecithin and oleic acid; sorbitan esters such as sorbitan trioleate; and polyvinylpyrrolidone; oligonucleotides such as CpG (WO 96/02555, and WO 98/16247), polyriboA and polyriboU; block copolymers; and immunostimulatory cytokines such as GM-CSF and IL-1, and Muramyl tripeptide (MTP). Additional examples of adjuvants are described, for example, in “Vaccine Design—the subunit and adjuvant approach” (Edited by Powell, M. F. and Newman, M. J.; 1995, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (Plenum Press, New York and London, ISBN 0-306-44867-X) entitled “Compendium of vaccine adjuvants and excipients” by Powell, M. F. and Newman M.

Salts may be added to a composition of the present invention, the composition comprising a protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in Table 1 or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, composition or formulation. Non-limiting examples of salts include acetate, benzoate, besylate, bitartate, bromide, carbonate, chloride, citrate, edetate, edisylate, estolate, fumarate, gluceptate, gluconate, hydrobromide, hydrochloride, iodide, lactate, lactobionate, malate, maleate, mandelate, mesylate, methyl bromide, methyl sulphate, mucate, napsylate, nitrate, pamoate (embonate, phosphate, diphosphate, salicylate and disalicylate, stearate, succinate, sulphate, tartrate, tosylate, triethiodide, valerate, aluminium, benzathine, calcium, ethylene diamine, lysine, magnesium, megluminie, potassium, procaine, sodium, tromethyamine or zinc.

Chelating agents may be added to a composition of the present invention, the composition comprising a protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in Table 1 or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, composition or formulation. Non-limiting examples of chelating agents include ethylenediamine, ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid, 1,2-bis(o-aminophenoxy)ethane- N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid, Penicillamine, Deferasirox, Deferiprone, Deferoxamine, 2,3-Disulfanylpropan-1-ol, Dexrazoxane, Iron(II,III) hexacyanoferrate(II,III), (R)-5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid, 2,3-Dimercapto-l-propanesulfonic acid, Dimercaptosuccinic acid, or diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid.

Buffering agents may be added to a composition of the present invention, the composition comprising a protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in Table 1 or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, composition or formulation. Non-limiting examples of buffering agents include phosphate, citrate, acetate, borate, TAPS, bicine, tris, tricine, TAPSO, HEPES, TES, MOPS, PIPES, cacodylate, SSC, MES or succinic acid.

Cosolvents may be added to a composition of the present invention, the composition comprising a protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, composition or formulation. Non-limiting examples of cosolvents contain hydroxyl groups or other polar groups, for example, alcohols, such as isopropyl alcohol; glycols, such as propylene glycol, polyethyleneglycol, polypropylene glycol, glycol ether; glycerol; polyoxyethylene alcohols and polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters. Non-limiting examples of cosolvents contain hydroxyl groups or other polar groups, for example, alcohols, such as isopropyl alcohol; glycols, such as propylene glycol, polyethyleneglycol, polypropylene glycol, glycol ether; glycerol; polyoxyethylene alcohols and polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters.

Supplementary compounds (e.g., preservatives, antioxidants, antimicrobial agents including biocides and biostats such as antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal agents) can also be incorporated into the compositions. Pharmaceutical compositions may therefore include preservatives, anti-oxidants and antimicrobial agents.

Preservatives can be used to inhibit microbial growth or increase stability of ingredients thereby prolonging the shelf life of the pharmaceutical formulation. Suitable preservatives are known in the art and include, for example, EDTA, EGTA, benzalkonium chloride or benzoic acid or benzoates, such as sodium benzoate. Antioxidants include, for example, ascorbic acid, vitamin A, vitamin E, tocopherols, and similar vitamins or provitamins.

An antimicrobial agent or compound directly or indirectly inhibits, reduces, delays, halts, eliminates, arrests, suppresses or prevents contamination by or growth, infectivity, replication, proliferation, reproduction, of a pathogenic or non- pathogenic microbial organism. Classes of antimicrobials include antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antiparasitics. Antimicrobials include agents and compounds that kill or destroy (-cidal) or inhibit (-static) contamination by or growth, infectivity, replication, proliferation, reproduction of the microbial organism.

Exemplary antibacterials (antibiotics) include penicillins (e.g., penicillin G, ampicillin, methicillin, oxacillin, and amoxicillin), cephalosporins (e.g., cefadroxil, ceforanid, cefotaxime, and ceftriaxone), tetracyclines (e.g., doxycycline, chlortetracycline, minocycline, and tetracycline), aminoglycosides (e.g., amikacin, gentamycin, kanamycin, neomycin, streptomycin, netilmicin, paromomycin and tobramycin), macrolides (e.g., azithromycin, clarithromycin, and erythromycin), fluoroquinolones (e.g., ciprofloxacin, lomefloxacin, and norfloxacin), and other antibiotics including chloramphenicol, clindamycin, cycloserine, isoniazid, rifampin, vancomycin, aztreonam, clavulanic acid, imipenem, polymyxin, bacitracin, amphotericin and nystatin.

Particular non-limiting classes of anti-virals include reverse transcriptase inhibitors; protease inhibitors; thymidine kinase inhibitors; sugar or glycoprotein synthesis inhibitors; structural protein synthesis inhibitors; nucleoside analogues; and viral maturation inhibitors. Specific non-limiting examples of anti-virals include nevirapine, delavirdine, efavirenz, saquinavir, ritonavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, amprenavir, zidovudine (AZT), stavudine (d4T), larnivudine (3TC), didanosine (DDI), zalcitabine (ddC), abacavir, acyclovir, penciclovir, ribavirin, valacyclovir, ganciclovir, 1,-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3 carboxamide, 9->2-hydroxy-ethoxy methylguanine, adamantanamine, 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine, trifluorothymidine, interferon and adenine arabinoside.

Pharmaceutical formulations and delivery systems appropriate for the compositions and methods of the invention are known in the art (see, e.g., Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy (2003) 20^(th) ed., Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa.; Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences (1990) 18^(th) ed., Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa.; The Merck Index (1996) 12^(th) ed., Merck Publishing Group, Whitehouse, N.J.; Pharmaceutical Principles of Solid Dosage Forms (1993), Technonic Publishing Co., Inc., Lancaster, Pa.; Ansel ad Soklosa, Pharmaceutical Calculations (2001) 11^(th) ed., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, Md.; and Poznansky et al., Drug Delivery Systems (1980), R. L. Juliano, ed., Oxford, N.Y., pp. 253-315).

A protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, along with any adjunct agent, compound drug, composition, whether active or inactive, etc., can be packaged in unit dosage form (capsules, tablets, troches, cachets, lozenges) for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage. A “unit dosage form” as used herein refers to physically discrete units suited as unitary dosages for the subject to be treated; each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active ingredient optionally in association with a pharmaceutical carrier (excipient, diluent, vehicle or filling agent) which, when administered in one or more doses, is calculated to produce a desired effect (e.g., prophylactic or therapeutic effect). Unit dosage forms also include, for example, ampules and vials, which may include a composition in a freeze-dried or lyophilized state; a sterile liquid carrier, for example, can be added prior to administration or delivery in vivo. Unit dosage forms additionally include, for example, ampules and vials with liquid compositions disposed therein. Individual unit dosage forms can be included in multi-dose kits or containers. Pharmaceutical formulations can be packaged in single or multiple unit dosage form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described herein.

All applications, publications, patents and other references, GenBank citations and ATCC citations cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the specification, including definitions, will control.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “and,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a “protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof,” or an “adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease” includes a plurality of proteins or peptides comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, or a plurality of adverse cardiovascular events or cardiovascular diseases and reference to an “activity or function” can include reference to one or more activities or functions of protein or peptide comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence set forth as any one of the peptides set forth in in Table 1, or a sub-sequence, portion, homologue, variant or derivative thereof,” including function as a T cell epitopes; eliciting, stimulating, inducing, promoting, increasing or enhancing an immune or inflammatory response; eliciting, stimulating, inducing, promoting, increasing or enhancing a T cell response; decreasing, reducing, inhibiting, suppressing or disrupting an immune or inflammatory response; eliciting, stimulating, inducing, promoting, increasing or enhancing an anti- immune or anti- inflammatory response, and so forth,

As used herein, numerical values are often presented in a range format throughout this document. The use of a range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the use of a range expressly includes all possible subranges, all individual numerical values within that range, and all numerical values or numerical ranges include integers within such ranges and fractions of the values or the integers within ranges unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. This construction applies regardless of the breadth of the range and in all contexts throughout this patent document. Thus, to illustrate, reference to a range of 90-100% includes 91-99%, 92-98%, 93-95%, 91-98%, 91-97%, 91-96%, 91-95%, 91-94%, 91-93%, and so forth. Reference to a range of 90-100%, includes 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 95%, 97%, etc., as well as 91.1%, 91.2%, 91.3%, 91.4%, 91.5%, etc., 92.1%, 92.2%, 92.3%, 92.4%, 92.5%, etc., and so forth. Reference to a range of 1-5 fold therefore includes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, fold, etc., as well as 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, fold, etc., 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, fold, etc., and so forth. Further, for example, reference to a series of ranges of 2-72 hours, 2-48 hours, 4-24 hours, 4-18 hours and 6-12 hours, includes ranges of 2-6 hours, 2, 12 hours, 2-18 hours, 2-24 hours, etc., and 4-27 hours, 4-48 hours, 4-6 hours, etc.

As also used herein a series of range formats are used throughout this document. The use of a series of ranges includes combinations of the upper and lower ranges to provide a range. Accordingly, a series of ranges include ranges which combine the values of the boundaries of different ranges within the series. This construction applies regardless of the breadth of the range and in all contexts throughout this patent document. Thus, for example, reference to a series of ranges such as 5-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-75, 75-100, 100-150, and 150-171, includes ranges such as 5-20, 5-30, 5-40, 5-50, 5-75, 5-100, 5-150, 5-171, and 10-30, 10-40, 10-50, 10-75, 10-100, 10-150, 10-171, and 20-40, 20-50, 20-75, 20-100, 20-150, 20-171, and so forth.

The invention is generally disclosed herein using affirmative language to describe the numerous embodiments and aspects. The invention also specifically includes embodiments in which particular subject matter is excluded, in full or in part, such as substances or materials, method steps and conditions, protocols, procedures, assays or analysis. Thus, even though the invention is generally not expressed herein in terms of what is not included, embodiments and aspects that expressly exclude compositions or method steps are nevertheless disclosed and included in the invention.

A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following examples are intended to illustrate but not limit the scope of invention described in the claims.

EXAMPLES Example 1: Peptides Useful for Preventing and Treating Atherosclerosis in Humans

Peptide binding to MHC-II requires anchor residues in certain positions and thus can be predicted using computer algorithms. Affinity can be measured experimentally using a competition assay (1). Both are excellent screening tools. However, affinity must be measured separately for each MHC-II allele. Humans express molecules encoded in four different MHC-II loci, denominated HLA-DRB1, DRB3/4/5, DP and DQ. Allelic variation is large, and most people are heterozygous at each locus, thus expressing up to 8 relevant MHC-II alleles. CD4 T cell responses strictly require that the antigenic peptide binds to the relevant MHC-II.

To identify peptides that could potentially be used in human patients, 30 peptides were screened for binding to 26 HLA alleles by competition assay. Among the 30 peptides predicted to bind based on the computer algorithms described in (4), peptides were found that bound HLA alleles at 10 nM or better (see Tables 1-4 below).

TABLE 1 ApoB100 Peptide Binding to Class II HLA Alleles (SEQ ID Nos: 2-31) HLA class II bound Epitope (IC50 < 1000 nM) Peptide Sequence Pos DP DQ DR Total 3563.0011 QLYSKFLLKAEPLAF 1926 6 5 14 25 3563.0027 QIHQYIMALREEYFD 4376 5 5 14 24 3563.0006 FLHYIFMENAFELPT 826 5 5 13 23 3563.0004 DKRLAAYLMLMRSPS 556 5 6 11 22 3563.0019 GKIDFLNNYALFLSP 3066 4 6 12 22 3563.0020 RGLKLATALSLSNKF 3391 5 4 13 22 3563.0010 HFSNVFRSVMAPFTM 1891 6 3 12 21 3563.0018 SLFFSAQPFEITAST 3036 5 6 10 21 3563.0005 TLTAFGFASADLLEI 676 4 6 10 20 3563.0008 VGSKLIVAMSSWLQK 1226 5 4 11 20 3563.0014 HVKHFVINLIGDFEV 2316 5 4 11 20 3563.0009 IKHIYAISSAALSAS 1836 4 2 13 19 3563.0022 YKKLRTSSFALNLPT 3771 6 1 12 19 3563.0028 KIVSLIKNLLVALKD 4406 5 3 11 19 3563.0007 VEFVTNMGIIIPDFA 881 3 5 10 18 3563.0017 LEVLNFDFQANAQLS 2801 3 4 11 18 3563.0025 KFTYLINYIQDEINT 4321 2 5 11 18 3563.0015 LIINWLQEALSSASL 2491 1 4 12 17 3563.0023 ILFSYFQDLVITLPF 4241 4 3 10 17 3563.0012 LSQLTYMIQFDQYI 2171 3 4 9 16 3563.0021 EGHLRFLKNIILPVY 3666 3 2 11 16 3563.0024 QEVFKAIQSLKTTEV 4281 4 1 11 16 3563.0026 DEINTIFSDYIPYVF 4331 3 5 8 16 3563.0013 LHDLKIAIANIIDEI 2191 0 5 10 15 3563.0030 FLIYITELLKKLQST 4531 5 0 8 13 3563.0016 GKLYSILKIQSPLFT 2756 1 1 10 12 3563.001  PALLALLALPALLLL 6 0 4 7 11 3563.0003 QELLDIANYLMEQIQ 461 1 4 6 11 3563.0002 LLIDVVTYLVALIPE 406 1 2 3 6 3563.0029 IDLSIQNYHTFLIYI 4521 0 1 3 4

TABLE 1 (Continued) (SEQ ID Nos: 32-34) Peptide Sequence P101 FGKQGFFPDSVNKALY P102 TLYALSHAVNSYFDVD P103 LYYKEDKTSLSASAAS

TABLE 2 ApoB100 Peptide Binding to HLA-DP Alleles DPB₁ DPB₁ DPB₁ DPB₁ DPB₁ DPB₁ Peptide *02:01 *03:01 04:01 *04:02 *05:01 *14:01 3563.0011 32 66 9.4 6.3 83 51 3563.0027 80 7.1 817 51 122 1819 3563.0006 40 1261 32 4.4 333 696 3563.0004 1677 26 372 23 4.1 102 3563.0019 456 1042 181 27 424 6514 3563.0020 3688 19 389 23 9.8 183 3563.0010 25 8.0 6.4 10 94 799 3563.0018 11 679 6.0 7.0 1478 126 3563.0005 1384 1123 490 5.3 412 847 3563.0008 128 583 89 161 15 1858 3563.0014 58 984 7.0 148 818 12236 3563.0009 712 90 1376 59 1329 132 3563.0022 3.3 2.5 2.1 67 221 15 3563.0028 657 710 78 155 12 1796 3563.0007 12 4896 37 10 6693 15604 3563.0017 86 3535 191 586 39381 — 3563.0025 439 2518 1162 14 2615 13722 3563.0015 16282 827 6187 2049 — 9553 3563.0023 10 596 4.0 295 3821 1596 3563.0012 576 7900 951 622 4124 4511 3563.0021 61 3012 9.4 20 4609 2069 3563.0024 200 1693 16 93 369 1779 3563.0026 418 7341 819 116 6904 15241 3563.0013 20759 8803 1733 1384 6520 7759 3563.0030 96 4558 215 8.6 32 925 3563.0016 9070 1620 2099 419 2379 7015 3563.001 — 4979 14008 1626 6560 1911 3563.0003 1784 9942 2575 182 — — 3563.0002 25784 25617 14481 190 — 8566 3563.0029 23235 4386 25047 15632 9158 20820

TABLE 3 ApoB100 Peptide Binding to HLA-DQ Alleles DQB₁ DQB₁ DQB₁ DQB₁ DQB₁ DQB₁ Peptide *02:01 *03:01 03:02 *04:02 05:01 *06:02 3563.0011 138 534 553 655 588 2766 3563.0027 3.4 3391 18 63 3.3 897 3563.0006 2.2 3402 162 97 39 113 3563.0004 67 333 1.1 133 53 13 3563.0019 85 524 5.7 462 62 495 3563.0020 154 71 21 1604 2631 245 3563.0010 76 88 1496 2438 5568 516 3563.0018 150 34 19 523 643 895 3563.0005 8.6 103 360 29 118 997 3563.0008 884 402 415 2472 3452 617 3563.0014 2.5 4663 137 273 3.7 13609 3563.0009 3027 8.5 1159 2038 6950 66 3563.0022 6841 4896 3586 — 273 2647 3563.0028 340 1454 256 22890 124 1459 3563.0007 64 152 249 322 228 8396 3563.0017 416 918 43 1008 597 1688 3563.0025 12 875 650 351 13 — 3563.0015 288 143 54 1497 416 1954 3563.0023 67 3809 967 2229 19 12221 3563.0012 74 1253 642 589 28 43062 3563.0021 144 3157 1208 6570 10 6142 3563.0024 1332 1248 2458 2109 76 1375 3563.0026 7.0 393 260 374 18 4554 3563.0013 17 60 77 246 691 1830 3563.0030 4923 6408 1064 36023 4765 5905 3563.0016 558 6205 1277 7266 5995 1623 3563.001 605 3628 618 619 137 24231 3563.0003 98 6647 241 394 4.0 2433 3563.0002 667 — 5.5 1990 3622 38822 3563.0029 1086 3340 1149 988 1116 14901

TABLE 4 ApoB100 Peptide Binding to HLA-DR Alleles DRB₁ DRB₁ DRB₁ DRB₁ DRB₁ DRB₁ DRB₁ DRB₁ DRB₁ DRB₁ Peptide *01:01 *03:01 *04:01 *04:05 *07:01 *09:01 *11:01 *12:01 *13:02 *15:01 3563.0011 4.3 572 7.5 61 4.2 5.7 42 350 0.18 7.3 3563.0027 4.1 643 175 158 78 66 291 84 57 5.7 3563.0006 5.0 21669 5.5 19 16 40 759 784 7.4 8.7 3563.0004 2.7 906 7.1 50 381 74 763 3978 180 0.67 3563.0019 0.81 5090 190 341 41 75 27900 243 0.52 0.22 3563.0020 7.1 724 16 546 5.1 17 1200 198 1.1 3.2 3563.0010 0.17 13209 0.73 4.3 0.39 1.5 228 6092 9.0 5.0 3563.0018 8.4 21919 18 906 10 6.2 4079 3621 8.0 358 3563.0005 60 16434 159 333 33 28 6994 27156 6.1 25 3563.0008 11 9916 2.0 145 15 29 1270 1149 1.0 0.39 3563.0014 530 — 143 248 20 472 9441 947 0.44 1.4 3563.0009 0.83 2799 0.44 86 77 5.7 334 159 4.1 1.1 3563.0022 146 33683 106 703 5.9 368 8279 49 0.72 17 3563.0028 55 7731 17 843 25 320 1930 230 3.5 0.084 3563.0007 10 1521 372 340 0.50 10.0 2218 3055 0.065 397 3563.0017 46 883 55 664 1099 417 11005 1226 80 250 3563.0025 15 — 8.2 20 69 473 32637 1753 312 1.3 3563.0015 34 38318 13 211 48 131 13776 142 12 47 3563.0023 748 — 8.0 479 6.3 1118 7897 1467 110 204 3563.0012 157 20534 19 69 14 425 33128 3356 35 1.1 3563.0021 3.0 2777 11 16 8.2 19 1383 10 2.4 0.17 3563.0024 3.0 7391 3.8 18 8.4 46 5054 558 19 0.82 3563.0026 550 308 17 4079 1441 1802 22312 1337 1.3 16 3563.0013 16 30115 103 366 9.7 294 12607 457 0.007 6.7 3563.0030 2864 4362 516 1315 132 2657 175 6287 28 121 3563.0016 36 4813 90 105 87 416 2309 72 5.6 65 3563.001 89 40962 789 2930 10432 643 25804 832 38 119 3563.0003 790 6666 2035 497 4106 2423 30558 1544 110 41 3563.0002 2985 6580 803 3626 13508 9889 — 5251 161 1943 3563.0029 3751 40662 15912 — 2004 1185 — 10426 11 74 DRB3 DRB3 DRB4 DRB₅ Peptide *01:01 *02:02 *01:01 *01:01 3563.0011 28 276 1.1 36 3563.0027 20 630 1.2 227 3563.0006 2.0 858 1.8 19 3563.0004 9938 1195 12 11 3563.0019 106 5.1 965 57 3563.0020 94 8.5 8.1 8.2 3563.0010 240 5.9 231 9.1 3563.0018 103 3568 85 58 3563.0005 99 18146 997 276 3563.0008 499 110 32 23 3563.0014 247 5.4 1.7 21056 3563.0009 535 3.4 8.1 18 3563.0022 113 4.3 96 590 3563.0028 12099 63 68 14 3563.0007 37 0.78 1.9 9286 3563.0017 243 857 94 694 3563.0025 964 21 45 771 3563.0015 352 364 12 481 3563.0023 71 430 135 939 3563.0012 1110 4665 29 826 3563.0021 7622 3.3 3.3 46 3563.0024 1401 76 37 24 3563.0026 5.1 60 92 8932 3563.0013 1508 4012 17 527 3563.0030 162 6465 101 20 3563.0016 8497 1571 2.0 106 3563.001 17017 7171 96 1022 3563.0003 88 25886 162 11070 3563.0002 28 7205 1573 33088 3563.0029 9192 27024 534 11751

Although all of these peptides can be used to develop a vaccine against atherosclerosis in humans, their in vivo efficacy cannot be tested easily in animal models. However, two peptides were discovered that can be tested in mice transgenic for HLA-DRB1*01:01, because their sequences are identical in human and mouse ApoB100. These two peptides are true autoantigens, because their sequence is homologous to mouse ApoB100. This eliminates the need for making a mouse that is transgenic for human ApoB100, which would have to be fully characterized for atherosclerosis. These two peptides are 3563.0019 with the sequence GKIDFLNNYALFLSP (0.81 nM affinity to HLA-DRB1*01:01) (SEQ ID NO.: 6) and 3563.0018 with the sequence SLFFSAQPFEITAST (8.4 nM affinity to HLA-DRB1*01:01) (SEQ ID NO.: 9).

Atherosclerosis-susceptible mice such as Apoe−/− or Ldlr−/− will be made transgenic for human ApoB100 and for at least one of the human MHC class II alleles. Such mouse is useful for testing the peptides that bind this particular human MHC class II allele. We have available a transgenic mouse (2) that expresses human HLA-DRB1*01:01. This one of the more common alleles of human MHC-II. HLA-DRB1*01:01 is expressed in about 5-10% of the general population (3). SLFFSAQPFEITAST (SEQ ID NO.: 9) is particularly useful because it is sequence identical AND it binds mouse MHC-II (I-A^(b)).

A vaccination scheme may include peptide plus complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) initially, followed by peptide in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) for booster immunizations, where 50 μg of each peptide (diluted in PBS) are emulsified in equal volumes of CFA (BD Difco, Sparks, Md., USA) and injected into the subcutaneous inguinal area of Apoe−/− mice at 8 weeks of age. Repeated boosters with 25 μg of each peptide emulsified in IFA (BD Difco, Sparks, Md., USA) are administered intraperitoneally at age 12, 16, 20 and 22 weeks.

REFERENCES

1. Oseroff, C., J. Sidney, R. Vita, V. Tripple, D. M. McKinney, S. Southwood, T. M. Brodie, F. Sallusto, H. Grey, R. Alam, D. Broide, J. A. Greenbaum, R. Kolla, B. Peters, and A. Sette. 2012. T cell responses to known allergen proteins are differently polarized and account for a variable fraction of total response to allergen extracts. J Immunol. 189: 1800-1811.

2. Wilkinson, R. J., K. A. Wilkinson, S. Jurcevic, A. Hills, S. Sinha, U. Sengupta, D. N. Lockwood, K. Katoch, D. Altman, and J. Ivanyi. 1999. Specificity and function of immunogenic peptides from the 35-kilodalton protein of Mycobacterium leprae. Infect. Immun. 67: 1501-1504.

3. Middleton, D., L. Menchaca, H. Rood, and R. Komerofsky. 2003. New allele frequency database. Tissue Antigens. 61: 403-407.

4. Greenbaum, J., J. Sidney, J. Chung, C. Brander, B. Peters, and A. Sette. 2011. Functional classification of class II human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules reveals seven different supertypes and a surprising degree of repertoire sharing across supertypes. Immunogenetics. 63: 325-335.

Example 2: P9

CD4 T cells in patients with atherosclerosis have been investigated before. T cell clones made from human atherosclerotic plaque respond to re-stimulation with oxLDL 1, but the antigenic peptide was not identified, the CD4 T cell phenotype was not analyzed other than noting that most clones produced IFN-γ, and thus disease relevance of this finding remains unclear. ApoB-specific CD4 T cell populations were identified by tetramer staining and sorting of CD4+ T cells in PBMCs from subjects with and without preclinical cardiovascular disease.

About 600 peptides (15-mers) derived from human ApoB were screened and tested for binding to the most common MHC-II alleles. Because CD4 T cells are strictly MHC-II restricted, it was imperative to know which peptides bind MHC-II. Since human MHC-II has 3 to 5 loci and hundreds of alleles, we tested which peptides bind to which alleles. Unlike C57BL/6 mice, which express only one allele, called I-Ab, each human expresses at least 6 alleles at the DR, DQ and DP loci. Some people can also express DRB3 and DRB4. DR is composed of a monomorphic α chain (DRA) and a polymorphic β chain (DRB1, DRB3 and DRB4), with different distributions in different ethnicities. The DR1, DQ and DP are all highly polymorphic. Binding to 28 commonly expressed alleles was tested: 7 DP alleles (DPB1*01:01, DPB1*02:01, DPB1*03:01, DPB1*04:01, DPB1*04:02, DPB1*05:01, DPB1*14:01), 6 DQ alleles (DQB1*02:01, DQB1*03:01, DQB1*03:02, DQB1*0402, DQB1*05:01, DQB1*06:02) and 15 DR alleles, 11 of them DRB1 alleles (DRB1*01:01, DRB1*03:01, DRB1*04:01, DRB1*04:05, DRB1*07:01, DRB1*08:02, DRB1*09:01, DRB1*1101, DRB1*12:01, DRB1*13:02, DRB1*15:01) and the remaining four DRB3, 4 and 5 (DRB3*01:01, DRB3*02:02, DRB4*01:01, DRB5*01:01). These alleles cover about 95% of all humans. Thirty human ApoB peptides were identified that bind broadly (many alleles) with an affinity of 1 μM or better. The distribution of alleles bound by each ApoB peptide ranges from 4 to 27. The number of DR, DQ, DR and DR1 alleles bound by each peptide is tabulated as “total” in Table 5. These are all candidate autoantigens relevant for atherosclerosis.

TABLE 5 Human ApoB peptides (one per row) binding MHC-II DP, DQ, DR, DR1 and total alleles. DP DQ DR DRB1 Total 7 5 15 11 27 5 5 15 11 25 5 5 14 10 24 5 6 12 10 23 6 6 11 8 23 4 6 13 9 23 5 4 14 10 23 6 3 13 9 22 4 6 11 8 21 5 4 12 8 21 5 4 12 9 21 7 1 13 9 21 4 2 14 10 20 5 3 12 9 20 2 5 12 8 19 3 5 10 7 18 3 4 11 7 18 4 2 12 9 18 3 4 10 8 17 1 4 12 8 17 4 3 10 6 17 4 1 12 9 17 0 5 11 9 16 3 5 8 5 16 5 0 9 6 14 1 1 11 9 13 0 4 7 6 11 1 4 6 4 11 1 2 3 2 6 0 1 3 2 4

One human ApoB-DRB1*0101 tetramer loaded with a human ApoB peptide called P9 (P9 tetramer for short) was generated and tested. P9 tetramer was labeled with PE and tested on frozen human PBMCs acquired in the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) study with and without CVD. Average cell viability was over 95%. The gating strategy for P9 tetramer+ CD4 T cells in PBMCs is shown in FIG. 3. In a subject with cardiovascular disease, 0.42% of all CD4+ T cells in PBMCs were fount to bind P9 tetramer (FIG. 4). A mismatched (not expressing DRB1*0101) donor was used as a negative control, and few cells bound the tetramer. As a second control, healthy DRB1*0101+ donors were used and less than 0.1% P9 tetramer+ cells were found (FIG. 5). By back-gating, almost 80% of P9 tetramer+ cells were indeed CD4 T cells (FIG. 6).

These data clearly establish that ApoB peptide-specific CD4 T cells can be identified by tetramer in frozen PBMCs from patients with subclinical cardiovascular disease (in this case, identified by carotid IMT). Using this technology, cells can be phenotyped for surface markers, transcription factors and cytokines. In preliminary data, enrichment for CD69, OX40 and PD-1 in P9-tetramer+ CD4 T cells was observed (FIG. 7). OX40 and PD-1 are markers of exhaustion. These data support the hypothesis that CD4 T cell exhaustion may be present in humans with atherosclerosis. Accordingly, the P9 tetramer can be used as a biomarker to assess the phenotype (FACS, CYTOF, RNA-Seq) of ApoB-specific CD4 T cells in humans, and as a biomarker to assess success of vaccination with P9.

Tetramers for human ApoB-specific CD4 T cells allows assessment of activation (CD45RO, CD44, CD62L), polarization (T-bet, Gata3, Bcl6, RORγt, FoxP3), exhaustion (O×40, ICOS1, CTLA4 and PD-1), proliferation (Ki-67) and apoptosis (annexin-V and active caspase). Both laser-based FACS and CYTOF can be used. The transcriptome of P9 tetramer+ CD4 T cells can be analyzed by RNA-Seq.

References (for Example 2)

1. Stemme S, Faber B, Holm J, Wiklund O, Witztum J L and Hansson G K. T lymphocytes from human atherosclerotic plaques recognize oxidized low density lipoprotein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1995;92:3893-3897.

2. Li J, McArdle S, Gholami A, Kimura T, Wolf D, Gerhardt T, Miller J, Weber C and Ley K. CCRS+T-bet+FoxP3+ Effector CD4 T Cells Drive Atherosclerosis. Circ Res. 2016.

Example 3: Liver Protective Vaccine

Peptides (15-mers) from mouse ApoB100, the core protein of LDL, were screened for binding to I-Ab by computer prediction and confirmed by radiolabeled peptide competition. Three new peptides, P101, FGKQGFFPDSVNKALY, SEQ ID NO: 32, affinity 5.5 nM, P102, TLYALSHAVNSYFDVD, SEQ ID NO: 33, affinity 6.8 nM, and P103, LYYKEDKTSLSASAAS, SEQ ID NO: 34, affinity 95 nM, were tested in an atherosclerosis model (ApoE−/− mice on western diet, FIG. 8). Immunization with each of the three peptides in CFA and 4×IFA, but not with adjuvant alone or with irrelevant peptide (ovalbumin, sequence, affinity) showed reduced atherosclerotic plaque in the aortic root by serial sections and in the whole aorta by en face staining. There were no differences in body weight, HDL or LDL cholesterol or triglycerides. Flow cytometry showed that peptide immunization induced IL-10 in 10-15% of peritoneal CD4 T cells, some of which also expressed CCRS. Vaccination with ApoB100 peptides expanded peritoneal FoxP3+ regulatory CD4 T cells and more than tripled the number of CCRS+FoxP3+ cells. Similar trends were also seen in the mediastinal lymph node that drains the peritoneal cavity, but not in the inguinal lymph node. In conclusion, vaccination with MHC-II restricted autologous ApoB100 peptides induces Tregs and IL-10, which resulted in protection from atherosclerosis.

ApoE−/− mice on western diet develop hepatosteatosis, which is associated with elevated liver enzymes including ALT. As disclosed herein, vaccination with ApoB100 peptides reduced ALT to control levels, suggesting that it prevented or reversed the hepatosteatosis associated with western diet. This means that vaccinating against ApoB100 peptides may be beneficial even in subjects without atherosclerosis. 

1-58. (canceled)
 59. A peptide comprising an amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 10, 11, 16, 17, 19 and
 20. 60. The peptide of claim 59, wherein the peptide has prophylactic or therapeutic activity or function against an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, or against liver disease, disorder or damage.
 61. The peptide of claim 59, wherein the peptide comprises at least two amino acid sequences selected from the group consisting of TLTAFGFASADLIEI (SEQ ID NO: 10), VGSKLIVAMSSWLQK (SEQ ID NO: 11), VEFVTNMGIIIPDFA (SEQ ID NO: 16), LEVLNFDFQANAQLS (SEQ ID NO: 17), LIINWLQEALSSASL (SEQ ID NO: 19), and ILFSYFQDLVITLPF (SEQ ID NO: 20).
 62. The peptide of claim 59, further comprising a heterologous domain.
 63. The peptide of claim 59, wherein the peptide has a function or activity distinct from wild-type full length ApoB100.
 64. The peptide of claim 63, wherein the function or activity comprises protecting a subject against or reducing the risk of a subject against atherosclerosis, protecting a subject against or reducing the risk of a subject against liver disease, disorder or damage, protecting a subject against an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, or reducing the risk of a subject to an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease.
 65. The peptide of claim 59, wherein the protein or peptide is isolated or purified.
 66. A method of providing a subject with protection against an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis or liver disease, disorder or damage, comprising administering to the subject an amount of a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 10, 11, 16, 17, 19 and 20, sufficient to provide the subject with protection against the adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis or liver disease, disorder or damage.
 67. The method of claim 66, further comprising administering a statin.
 68. The method of claim 66, wherein the peptide comprises at least two amino acid sequences selected from the group consisting of TLTAFGFASADLIEI (SEQ ID NO: 10), VGSKLIVAMSSWLQK (SEQ ID NO: 11), VEFVTNMGIIIPDFA (SEQ ID NO: 16), LEVLNFDFQANAQLS (SEQ ID NO: 17), LIINWLQEALSSASL (SEQ ID NO: 19), and ILFSYFQDLVITLPF (SEQ ID NO: 20).
 69. The method of claim 68, wherein the adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease comprises coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, renal artery disease, stroke, myocardial infarction (heart attack), ischemic heart failure, transient ischemic attack or brain trauma.
 70. A method of treating a subject for an adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis or liver disease, disorder or damage, the method comprising administering to the subject an amount of a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 10, 11, 16, 17, 19 and 20, sufficient to treat the subject for the adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis or liver disease, disorder or damage.
 71. The method of claim 70, wherein the adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease comprises coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, renal artery disease, stroke, myocardial infarction (heart attack), ischemic heart failure, transient ischemic attack or brain trauma.
 72. The method of claim 70, wherein the method comprises prophylactic vaccination, protection or risk reduction against the adverse cardiovascular event or cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, or liver disease, disorder or damage.
 73. The method of claim 70, further comprising administering a statin.
 74. The method of claim 70, wherein the peptide comprises at least two amino acid sequences selected from the group consisting of TLTAFGFASADLIEI (SEQ ID NO: 10), VGSKLIVAMSSWLQK (SEQ ID NO: 11), VEFVTNMGIIIPDFA (SEQ ID NO: 16), LEVLNFDFQANAQLS (SEQ ID NO: 17), LIINWLQEALSSASL (SEQ ID NO: 19), and ILFSYFQDLVITLPF (SEQ ID NO: 20). 